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Book E*2- 






THE HISTORY 



BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA; 



CONTAINING DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF THOSE 



BOLD AND DARING FREEBOOTERS; 



CHIEFLY ALONG THE 



SPANISH MAIN, IN THE WEST INDIES, 



AND IN THE GREAT SOUTH SEA. 



SUCCEEDING THE CIVIL WARS IN ENGLAND. 



NEW EDITION; 

WITH SOME INTRODUCTORY NOTICES OF PIRACIES ON THE COAST OF 
NEW ENGLAND, TO THE YEAR 1724. 



BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED BY BAZIN & ELLSWORTH, 

No. 1 CORNHILL. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by 

OLIVER L. PERKINS, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 



SM1 



( 







PREFACE 

TO THE EDITION OF 1699. 



It would be superfluous to say much by way of Preface to 
the following work, since a great part of it has some years ago 
been exposed to public view with a general applause ; and 
indeed the wondrous actions and daring adventures therein 
related, are such as could not but transport the most stupid 
minds into an admiration of them, though many times they 
were not attended with that justice and regularity that becomes 
civilized men, or men of any pretensions to morality; but be- 
cause we have here gathered up all that ever has been written 
in any language upon the subject of buccaneering, and that in 
a successive order down to the present time, [1700,] it will be 
necessary to enumerate the particulars thereof for the better 
information and satisfaction of the reader. 

First, then, we have all the expeditions and exploits of the 
buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga, both English and French, 
set forth at large ; and more especially what was transacted 
under the conduct of Sir Henry Morgan, by sacking of Puerto 
Velo, burning of Panama, &c, in the West Indies, written 
originally in the Dutch tongue ; whereunto there are added the 
no less bold attempts and performances of men of the same 
stamp under the command of Captains Sharp, Sawkins, Coxon, 
and others, on the coasts of the South Seas; the whole being 
intermixed with vast variety of adventures and discoveries, 
and written by Mr. Basil Ringrose, who kept a journal of the 
said voyage, as being personally, present at all the transactions, 
and is said by Mr. Dampier to be very exact. 

But let nobody be surprised that he doth not find both these 
relations printed verbatim, as in the former edition has been 
done, since the matter is much improved ; for whereas the style 
before was loose and uncouth in divers parts thereof, the same 
is now rectified, and made more correct, throughout the whole 
body of it, which cannot but add a new life and relish there- 
unto. And if this may be presumed upon, how much mora 



PREFACE. 



may be expected from the succeeding journal of a voyage 
made into the South Sea by the American Freebooters, com- 
mencing the year 1684, (about which time the other termi- 
nated,) and ending at 16S9, which was written in French by 
the Sieur Raveneau de Lussan, an ensign amongst them, 
and now first put into an English dress, and so consequently 
new to us ; and, indeed the particulars are all as novel as they 
are stupendous and amazing, that men should run such extreme 
hazards and hardships for money, and make such ill use of 
it when they have got it ; and, for my own part, I must ingen- 
uously confess, that since my first perusal I could never yet 
think of them without the greatest astonishment imaginable; 
especially seeing the whole contexture and narrative is so plain 
and simple, that to me it seems to carry an evidence of truth in 
every part of it. 

I will not take upon me to apologize for many of the actions 
done, and here related, since even in the most regular troops 
and best disciplined armies, daily enormities are committed 
which the strictest vigilance cannot prevent. However, it is 
very remarkable, that in such a lawless body as these bucca- 
neers seem to be, in .respect to all others, that yet there should he 
such an economy (if I may so say) kept, and regularity prac- 
tised amongst themselves, so that every one seemed to have his 
property as much secured to himself, as if he had been a mem- 
ber of the most civilized community in the world ; though at the 
same time, when I consider of some of their laws, such as those 
against drunkenness and the like immoralities, I believe I have 
a great deal of reason to remain suspicious of their sincerity. 
•But, be these things as they will, a bolder race of men, both 
as to personal valor and conduct, certainly never yet appeared 
on the liquid element or dry land ; and I hope it will be taken 
neither for any affront nor a compliment to say, the English 
were always the leading and prevailing party amongst them. 

What closes up the whole is an account of the adventures 
of Capt. Montauban on the coast of Africa, in the last years 
of the war between us and France, to whom, though the charac- 
ter of privateer doth more properly belong than that of buccaneer 
or freebooter, yet his actions, fight with the English guard ship, 
blowing up, strange escape, subsequent wanderings and haz- 
ards, are of so surprising a nature, rmd have so much likeness 
and affinity to the foregoing relations, that they could not with- 
out injustice to our design be omitted, and without which the 
whole would appear to be lame and imperfect. 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is very common at this day, and probably always was so, 
for even apparently thoughtful and considerate people to lament 
over the degenerate times in which they live, and to assert con- 
fidently that " the world is going on from bad to worse ;" but it 
is a great mistake to suppose this — nothing can be farther from 
the truth. The following treatise is sufficient to set every 
individual who shall peruse it, right on this question. If there 
be any who entertain doubts as to the propriety of making this 
class of works public, we say to them, " Read the following 
pages, and compare the state and transactions of the world at 
the times on which it treats with those of the present." If, 
when they have done this, they are not satisfied that the gen- 
eral character of mankind has been greatly ameliorated within 
the last three centuries, nothing, it is thought, would satisfy 
them of the fact. 

Within the period just stated there has been a complete 
revolution of the seas. Sea-kings are no longer known or 
acknowledged. Their dark and dismal reign has passed away 
forever. But we need not go back to the times of the despe- 
rate and bloody Vikingr of the north ; it is only necessary to 
survey our own American coast within the space of two hun- 
dred years after its settlement by Europeans, to learn what 
terrors awaited all those who attempted voyages by sea. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In no very remote period, the European states were often 
glad to make the best terms they could with pirates, and mer- 
chants were subjected to heavy tribute when permitted to pursue 
their voyages. Pirates hovered upon every coast, and often 
sent challenges on shore to the kings of the countries. It is 
said to be no fable, that one of the dreaded sea rovers, while 
sweeping up and down the coast of England, sent to the king 
this bravado : — » 

" Go tell the king of England, go tell him thus from me. 
Though he reigns king o'er all the land, I will reign king at sea." 

Those rovers went sometimes in considerable fleets, and it 
was very common for one piratical fleet to attack another. Such 
fights often resulted in the entire destruction of the vanquished 
party. Sometimes one would chase another into the very 
ha'rbor of a populous place, to the great terror of its inhab- 
itants, and there carry on their bloody work. 

To judge of the actors of those times, their barbarous con- 
dition must be considered. They bore as fair a relation to the 
civilization of their times as the rougher part of the commu- 
nity of later days do to theirs. For a long period Scandina- 
via was the nursery of Sea-kings, in other words, pirates ; it 
was a period when the law of nations was the law of the 
strongest ; an age when every male child was born for war as 
surely as he arrived at an age to enable him to wield a battle- 
axe ; an age when it was thought the most inglorious thing 
that could happen to a man was not to die in war. War was 
the great and grand business of life. 

Coming down to a later period, the sixteenth century, some- 
thing of that fierceness had worn away ; civilization had spread 
its influence far into the north, and though pirates infested every 
sea where commerce was found, yet they had gradually lost 
their preeminence on the ocean. Those who retaliated for theii 



INTRODUCTION. > 7 

losses were not considered pirates, though those who suffered 
from retaliation had often no hand in the cause of such reprisal. 
This relict of the ancient Vikingr disgraces the annals of our 
own times ; the hand of friendship is to this hour extended 
to those who have made themselves rich by their robberies on 
the ocean ; they even fill places of honor and profit as a 
reward for their crimes — crimes they are, though sanctioned 
by law, as much so as though they had happened in another 
age, and even more. 

The stories of the pirates that have infested the American 
seas, since the time of Capt. William Kidd, would make a large 
volume, and one of exceeding great interest. We have space 
to advert to but few of them. In the year 1689, two noted 
pirates, Thomas Hawkins and Thomas Ponnd, cruised upon 
the coast of New England, and committed many depredations 
with great boldness. The colony of Massachusetts Bay came 
to the determination to attempt their capture, and accordingly 
fitted out a sloop called the Mary, Samuel Pease com- 
mander, which sailed on the 4th of October of that year. 
Having received information that the piratical vessel was in or 
about Tarpaulin Cove, Capt. Pease made for that harbor. 
When off Wood's Hole he had certain intelligence of the ob- 
ject of his search, and making all the, sail he could, he soon 
found himself within hailing distance of the outlaw. When 
he was ordered to heave to, the pirate ran up a red flag, where- 
upon Pease fired a shot athwart his forefoot, and ordered him 
to strike his colors. As the Mary came down upon him, she 
sent another shot under his forefoot, and again ordered him to 
strike ; but Pound, stationed upon his quarterdeck, brandished 
his naked sword, bid them " Come on, you dogs, and I will 
strike you!" Meantime, his men standing ready with their 
guns pointed, discharged a volley upon the Mary, whose men 
returned it in earnest. The fight, thus commenced, for some 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

time raged fiercely, no quarter being expected on either side. At 
length, laying the pirate on board, Capt. Pease compelled him 
to strike, though not till himself had received many wounds, 
and several of his men were wounded also ; but how many, 
our accounts do not state, nor what damage the pirates received 
before they surrendered. But the conquest was dearly bought 
by the victors, as the wounds of Capt. Pease proved mortal 
five days after the battle. 

For the next quarter of a century and more, the records of 
our admiralty courts are full of trials of pirates, with the most 
revolting accounts of their cruelties, and their executions. The 
following will probably be read with much interest, as it brings 
to our notice the immediate ancestor of our present chief 
magistrate of the United States, who, being taken by a pirate, 
effected his own deliverance in the most heroic and extraordi- 
nary manner. 

Every body has probably read of a noted pirate of the name 
of Phillips, who, for some time previous to 1724, roved where 
he listed, making spoil where he could, and shedding innocent 
blood as it were for sport. At the same time there was living 
at Ipswich, in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, a certain 
John Fillmore, aged twenty-one years, he having been born 
in the year 1702. His father, also named John, had followed 
the seas, but had died in the West Indies several years before 
his son's majority, from the effects of cruel treatment while a' 
prisoner there with the French. John Fillmore, the son, ship* 
ped on a fishing voyage for the Grand Banks, in the sloop 
Dolphin of Cape Ann, Mark Haskell skipper, in the spring of 
1723. Having pursued their business of fishing till the au- 
tumn of the same year, Haskell and his company were fallen 
in with by Phillips, and all made prisoners. Plunder was not 
the object of their capture, but men to join the pirates in their 
nefarious enterprises. It was soon apparent that they intended 



INTRODUCTION. 



to take only such of the fishermen as were stoat and able- 
bodied. Accordingly, Fillmore was made choice of, and his 
captain was ordered to send him on board. There was no 
alternative, and Fillmore was compelled to join the pirates, 
though to their sad cost, as in the sequel will appear. 

" When I first went on board the pirate," says Fillmore, 
' their crew consisted of ten men, including the captain, and 
the whole of them, I think, as stout, hardy-looking fellows as 
ever I saw together." The great reluctance which Fillmore dis- 
covered on entering the service of his new master caused Phillips 
to promise him his liberty if he would serve him faithfully 
two months. He was probably as sincere, when he made this 
promise, as Fillmore was in his intention of serving him faith- 
fully. The two months soon ran away, and little or no booty 
fell into the pirate's hands, which caused him to treat his men 
roughly ; and when at the end of that time Fillmore reminded 
him of his promise, he said upon his honor he would let him 
go after three months more. As before, there was no escape, 
and he submitted to his fate as well as he could. But the next 
three months were as unprofitable as the preceding two, only 
the pirate made an accession to his crew of several able men, 
whom, from time to time he had, as in the case of Fillmore, forced 
from other vessels into his service. At or near the expiration 
of seven months, they took a merchant ship, Capt. Harridon, 
of Boston, returning from a voyage to the West Indies. Har- 
ridon was a young man, only about twenty-two years of age. 

Meantime, when Fillmore ventured again to claim his liber- 
ty, the pirate captain sneered a most fiendish grin, and among 
unutterable oaths roared out, " Set you at liberty ! Damn ye — 
yoiCll be set at liberty when Fm damned, and not before! " 

Phillips's rage was heightened against Fillmore, because the 
latter had all along refused to sign the ship's piratical articles. 
The others of the forced crew who had not signed them were 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

Capt. Harridon, James Cheesman, a ship carpenter, and a 
Spanish Indian, who was taken with Harridon. Seeing now 
that he had no chance of escape left, or not until his captain 
was " damned," as he himself expressed it, he was not long in 
making up his mind to have him put into that state whenever 
it could be attempted with a slight prospect of success. 

So tyrannical had Phillips become, that even his own regular 
pirates hated him, and the more so, as they knew he had not a 
shadow of honor, and they had daily evidences of his bad 
faith even with them. About this time he put one of his men 
on board a prize, and ordered him to keep company. This 
man attempted to escape with the prize, but being overtaken 
by Phillips, he surrendered on assurances of good quarter. But 
as soon as he reached the deck of the pirate ship, Phillips run 
him through with his sword. 

So watchful and jealous were Phillips and his companions, 
that it was with much difficulty and extreme hazard that Fill- 
more and his few friends, Cheesman, Harridon and the Indian, 
could form a plan for the effecting of their design. At length, 
however, after about nine months' captivity, a plan was laid 
and successfully carried into execution. But not long before 
its maturity, the authors were suspected by Phillips, and one of 
their company was in the most barbarous manner put to death 
by him by running him through the body with his sword, as 
he had his brother pirate before mentioned. This man, thus 
cold-bloodedly murdered (whose name is not mentioned) be- 
longed to New England, and what aggravates his case is the 
fact, that he knew nothing of the conspiracy. Fillmore and 
the others intended to enlist him in it. but had not yet found 
a suitable opportunity. He also suspected Fillmore, and 
attempted his life by snapping his pistol against his breast, 
which missed fire. It however went off on the second attempt, 
which was immediately made ; but Fillmore at the moment of 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

the discharge struck the pistol so much aside that its contents 
missed him. For some unexplained or unexplainable cause 
the miirderer made no further attempt upon his life, but 
a damned him, and bid him go about his biisiness." 

It was not long after this that the pirates had a carousal, 
some of them got beastly drunk, and all got exhausted, and 
this was an opportunity not to be lost. The day before, Chees- 
mao, the carpenter, had been ordered to make some repairs on 
deck, and he took care to leave his broadaxe and other tools 
there. In the dead of night, when the carousal had ceased, all 
things were arranged. Fillmore was to split out the brains 
of Capt. Phillips, Cheesman was to seize the master and throw 
him headlong into the sea, the Indian was to stand ready to act 
according to circumstances, while Harridon was so overcome 
with fear that nothing was allotted to him to perform in the 
tragedy. And although the Indian stood to the post assigned 
him, yet, as Fillmore in his narrative expresses it, he was so 
terrified that " he became near as white as any of us." And, 
as to himself, he says, that as he stood ready to seize the broad- 
axe, "his knees fairly smote together." 

The pirate crew seems now to have consisted of ten men, and 
none«can wonder that trepidation should seize upon the three 
that were to attack them. The three chief pirates were on deck 
at about twelve o'clock in the day — that day which was to 
seal the destiny of one or the other party. The fatal moment 
having arrived, Cheesman seized his man, and at the same 
breath Fillmore brought down the broadaxe upon the head of 
the boatswain, splitting it in twain ; and before Phillips could 
draw his sword, the axe fell upon his head also. 

The quartermaster was in the cabin, who, hearing the bustle, 
rushed out upon Cheesman and was prevented dealing a deadly 
blow upon him by the Indian, who was stationed at the com- 
panionway. He seized him by the arms, and in a moment 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

more, Fillmore, with another blow of his broadaxe, nearly sev- 
ered his head from his body. The rest of the crew surren- 
dered at discretion, and with the captured vessel the victors 
arrived in Boston on the 3d of May, 1724. 

Such was the end of the piratical enterprise of the famous 
and much dreaded Capt. John Phillips. Three of the pirates 
were tried, condemned and executed, and hung in chains on 
Bird Island, in Boston harbor. The other three, with the ship, 
were sent to England, with whom went Cheesman and the 
Indian also. The three pirates were soon after hung at Exe- 
cution Dock, and Cheesman and the Indian were suitably 
rewarded. 

It will be interesting, probably, to the reader to learn, that 
the John Fillmore, who was so conspicuous in the desperate 
enterprise here related, was the great-grandfather of Millard 
Fillmore, President of the United States. 



THE 



BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER I. 



The Introduction. — The Author * sets forth for the Western Islands, in the 
Service of the West India Company of France. — They meet with an English 
Frigate, and arrive at the Island of Tortuga. 

As the Buccaneers in the West Indies have been so formi- 
dable, and numerous that they have interrupted the trade of 
Europe into those parts, and our English merchants, in partic- 
ular, have suffered more by their depredations than by the 
united force of France and Spain, in the late war, we do not 
doubt but the world will be curious to know the origin and 
progress of these desperadoes, who were the terror of the trad- 
ing part of the world. 

But before we enter upon their particular history, it will not 
be amiss, by way of introduction, to show, by some examples 
drawn from history, the great mischief and danger which 
threaten kingdoms and commonwealths from the increase of 
these sort of robbers ; when, either by the troubles of particular 
times, or the neglect of governments, they are not crushed be- 
fore they gather strength. • 

It has been the case heretofore, that when a single pirate has 
been suffered to range the seas, as not being worth the notice 
of a government, he has by degrees grown so powerful, as to 
put them to. the expense of a great deal of blood and treasure, 
before he was suppressed. We shall not examine how it came 
to pass that our Buccaneers in the West Indies have continually 
increased till of late. This is an inquiry which belongs to the 
legislature. 

I shall therefore speak of the pirates infesting the West In- 

* Joseph Esquemeling, in company with Le Grand, Lolonois, Roche Brasi- 
lino, Bat, the Portuguese, &c. 

2 



14 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

dies, where they are more numerous than in any other part of 
the world, oh several reasons. 

First. Because there are so many uninhabited little islands 
and keys, with harbors convenient and secure for cleaning 
their vessels, and abounding with what they often want, provis- 
ion : I mean water, sea-fowl, turtle, shell and other fish ; where, 
if they carry in but strong liquor, they indulge a time, and be- 
come ready for new expeditions, before any intelligence can 
reach to hurt them. 

It may here, perhaps, be no unnecessary digression to explain 
what they call keys in the West Indies. These are small 
sandy islands, appearing a little above the surface of the water, 
with only a few bushes or weeds upon them, but abound (those 
most at any distance from the main) with turtle, amphibious ani- 
mals, that always choose the quietest and most unfrequented 
place for laying their eggs, which are to a vast number in the 
seasons, and would seldom be seen, but for this, (except by 
pirates.) Then vessels from Jamaica and the other govern- 
ments make voyages, called turtling, for supplying the people ; 
a common and approved food with them. I am apt to think 
these keys, especially those nigh islands, to have been' once 
contiguous with them, and separated by earthquakes (frequently 
there) or inundations; because some of them that have been 
within continual view, as those nigh Jamaica, are observed 
within our time to be entirely wasted away and lost, and others 
daily wasting. They are not only of the use above taken 
notice of to pirates, but, it is commonly believed, were always, 
in buccaneering, piratical times, the hiding-places for their 
riches, and oftentimes a shelter for themselves, till their friends 
on the main had found means to obtain indemnity for their 
crimes ; for you must understand, when acts of grace were 
more frequent, and the laws less severe, these men continually 
found favors and encouragers at Jamaica, and perhaps they are 
not all dead yet. I have been told many of them, still living. 
have been of the same trade, and left, it off only because they 
can live as well honestly, and gain now at the hazard of others' 
necks. 

Second. Another reason why these seas are chose by pirates 
is the great commerce thither by French, Spaniards, Dutch, 
and especially English ships. Thry are sure, in the latitude 
of these trading islands, to meet with prizes, booties of provis- 
ion, clothing, and naval stores, and sometimes money ; there 
being great sums remitted this way to England ; (the re- 
turns of the Assiento, and private slave-trade to the Spanish 
West Indies;) and, in short, by some one or other, all the 
riches of Potosi. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 15 

A third reason is the inconvenience and difficulty of being 
pursued by the men-of-war ; the many small inlets, lagoons, 
and harbors, on these solitary islands and keys, are a natural 
security. 

It is generally here that the pirates begin their enterprises, 
setting out at first with a very small force ; and, by infesting 
these seas, and those of the continent of North America, in a 
year's time, if they have good luck on their sides, they accu- 
mulate such strength as enables them to make foreign expedi- 
tions. The first is usually to Guinea, taking the Azores and 
Cape de Verd Islands in their way, and then to Brazil and the 
East Indies, where, if they meet with prosperous voyages, they 
set down at Madagascar, or the neighboring islands, and enjoy 
their ill-gotten wealth, among their elder brethren, with impu- 
nity. But that I may not give too much encouragement to 
the profession, I must inform my maritime readers that the far 
greater part of these rovers' are cut short in the pursuit, by a 
sudden precipitation into the other world. 

The rise of these rovers, since the peace of Utrecht, or, at 
least, the great increase of them, may justly be imputed to the 
Spanish settlements in the West Indies, the governors of 
which, being often some hungry courtiers, sent thither to re- 
pair or make a fortune, generally countenance all proceedings 
that bring in profit. They grant commissions to great num- 
bers of vessels of war, on pretence of preventing an interloping 
trade, with orders to seize all ships or vessels whatsoever, within 
five leagues of their coasts, which our 'English ships cannot 
well avoid coming, in their voyage to Jamaica. But if the 
Spanish captains chance to exceed this commission, and rob 
and plunder at discretion, the sufferers are allowed to complain, 
and exhibit a process in their court, and, after great expense of 
suit, delay of time, and other inconveniences, obtain a decree 
in their favor ; but then, when the ship and cargo come to be 
claimed, with costs of suit, they find, to their sorrow, that it 
has been previously condemned, and the plunder divided among 
the crew. The commander that made the capture, who alone 
is responsible, is found to be a poor, rascally fellow, not worth 
a groat, and, no doubt, is placed in that station for the like 
purposes. 

The frequent losses sustained by our merchants abroad, by 
these pirates, was provocation enough to attempt something by 
way of reprisal ; and a fair opportunity offering itself in the year 
1716, the traders to the West Indies took care not to slip it 
over, but made the best use of it their circumstances would 
permit. 



16 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

I 

It was about two years before, that the Spanish galleons, or 
Plate fleet, had been cast away in the Gulf of Florida ; and 
several vessels from the Havana were at work, with diving en- 
gines, to fish up the silver that was on board the galleons. 

The Spaniards had recovered some millions of dollars, or 
pieces of eight, and had carried it all to the Havana ; but they had 
at present about three hundred and fifty thousand pieces of eight, 
then, upon the spot, and were daily taking up more. In the 
mean time, two ships and three sloops, fitted out from Jamaica, 
Barbadoes, &c., under Captain Henry Jennings, sailed to the 
gulf, and found the Spaniards there upon the wreck ; the 
money before spoken of was left on shore, deposited in a store- 
house, under the government of two commissaries, and a guard 
of about sixty soldiers. 

The rovers came directly upon the place, bringing their little 
fleet to an anchor, and, in a word, landing three hundred men, 
they attacked the guard, who immediately ran away ; and thus 
they seized the treasure, which they carried off, making the 
best of their way to Jamaica. 

In their way, they unhappily met with a Spanish ship, 
bound from Porto Bello to the Havana, with a great many 
rich goods, viz., bales of cochineal, casks of indigo, and sixty 
thousand pieces of eight more, which, their hands being in, 
they took, and having rifled the vessel, let her go. 

They went away to Jamaica with their booty, and were fol- 
lowed in view of the port by the Spaniards, who, having seen 
them thither, went back to the governor of the Havana, with 
the account of it, who immediately sent a vessel to the gov- 
ernor of Jamaica, to complain of this robbery, and to reclaim 
the goods. 

As it was in full peace, and contrary to all justice and right, 
that this fact was committed, they were soon made sensible 
that the government at Jamaica would not suffer them to go 
'unpunished, much less protect them. Therefore they saw a 
necessity of shifting for themselves ; so, to make bad worse, 
they went to sea again, though not without disposing of their 
cargo to good advantage, and furnishing themselves with am- 
munition, provisions, &c. ; and being thus made desperate, they 
turned pirates, robbing not the Spaniards only, but their own 
countrymen, and any nation they could lay their hands on. 

It happened about this time that the Spaniards, with three 
or four small men-of-war, fell upon our logwood-cutters in the 
Bay of Campeachy and Honduras; and after they had made 
them prizes, they gave the men belonging to them three sloops, 
to carry them home : but these men, being made desperate by 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 17 

their misfortunes, and meeting with the pirates, they took on 
with them, and so increased their number. 

Not to detain the reader any longer with these particulars, I 
shall proceed to give an account of our voyage from Havre de 
Grace, in France, from whence we set sail in a ship called St. 
John, May 2, 1666. Our vessel was equipped with twenty- 
eight guns, twenty mariners, and two hundred and twenty 
passengers, including those whom the Company sent as free 
passengers. Soon after we came to an anchor under the Cape 
of Barfleur, there to join seven other ships of the same West 
India Company, which were to come from Diep, under convoy 
of a man-of-war, mounted with thirty-seven guns, and two 
hundred and fifty men. Of these ships, two were bound for 
Senegal, five for the Caribbee Islands, and ours for Tortuga. 
Here gathered to us about twenty sail of other ships, bound for 
Newfoundland, with some Dutch vessels going for Nantz, Ro- 
chelle, and St. Martin's, so that in all we made thirty sail. 
Here we put ourselves in a posture of defence, having notice 
that four English frigates, of sixty guns each, waited for us 
near Aldernay. Our admiral, the Chevalier Sourdis, having 
given necessary orders, we sailed thence with a favorable gale, 
and some mists arising, totally impeded the English frigates 
from discovering our fleet. We steered our course as near as 
we could to the coast of France, for fear of the enemy. As 
we sailed along, we met a vessel of Ostend, who complained to 
our admiral that a French privateer had robbed hi in that very 
morning ; whereupon, we endeavored to pursue the said pirate ; 
but our labor was in vain, not being able to overtake him. 

Our fleet, as we sailed, caused no small fears and alarms to 
the inhabitants of the coasts of France, these judging us to be 
English, and that we sought some convenient place for land- 
ing. To allay their fright, we hung out our colors ; but they 
would not trust us. After this, we came to an anchor in the 
Bay of Conquet, m Brittany, near Ushent, there to take in 
water. Having stored ourselves with fresh provisions here, we 
prosecuted our voyage, designing to pass by the Ras of Fon- 
tenau, and not expose ourselves to the Sorlingues, fearing the 
English that were cruising thereabouts. This River Ras is of 
a current very strong and rapid, which, rolling over many 
rocks, disgorges itself into the sea, on the coast of France, in 
48° 10' latitude ; so that this passage is very dangerous, all the 
rocks, as yet, being not thoroughly known. 

Here I shall mention the ceremony which, at this passage, 
and some other places, is used by the mariners, and by them 
called baptism, though it may seem little to our purpose. The 
2* 



18 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

master's mate clothed himself with a ridiculous sort of garment, 
that reached to his feet, and on his head he put a suitable cap, 
made very burlesque ; in his right hand he had a naked wooden 
sword, and in his left a pot full of ink. His face was horribly 
blacked with soot, and his neck adorned with a collar, of many 
little pieces of wood. Thus apparelled, he commanded every 
one to be called who had never passed through that dangerous 
place before ; and then causing them to kneel down, he made the 
sign of the cross on their foreheads with ink, and gave every one 
a stroke on the shoulders with his wooden sword. Meanwhile 
the bystanders cast a bucket of water upon each man's head, 
and so ended the ceremony. But that done, each of the bap- 
tized must give a bottle of brandy, placing it nigh the main- 
mast, without speaking a word — even those who have no such 
liquor not being excused. .If the vessel never passed that way 
before, the captain is obliged to distribute some wine among 
the mariners and passengers ; but, as for other gifts, which the 
newly-baptized frequently offer, they are divided among the 
old seamen, and of them they make a banquet among them- 
selves. 

The Hollanders, likewise, not only at this passage, but also 
at the rocks called Berlingues, nigh the coast of Portugal, in 
39° 40', (being a passage very dangerous, especially by night, 
when, in the dark, the rocks are not distinguishable, the land 
being very high,) they use some such ceremony, but their man- 
ner of baptizing is very different from that of the French ; 
for he that is to be baptized is fastened, and hoisted up thrice 
at the. main-yard's end, as if he were a criminal. If he be 
hoisted the fourth time, in the name of the Prince of Orange, 
or of the captain of the vessel, his honor is more than ordi- 
nary. Thus every one is dipped several times in the main 
ocean ; but he that is dipped first has the honor of being sa- 
luted with a gun. Such as are not willing to fall must pay 
twelve pence for ransom ; if he be an officer, two shillings ; 
and if a passenger, at their own pleasure. If the ship never 
passed that way before, the captain is to give a small runlet 
of wine, which, if he denies, the- mariners may cut off the 
stem of the vessel. All the profit accruing by this cere- 
mony is kept by the masters mate, avIio, after reaching 
their port, usually lays it out in wine, which is drank amongst 
the ancient seamen. Some say this ceremony was instituted 
by the Emperor Charles V., though it is not amongst his laws. 
But here I leave these sea customs, and return to our voyage. 

Having passed the Ras, we had very good weather, till we 
came to Cape Finisterre ; here a sudden tempest surprised 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 19 

us, and separated our ship from the rest that were in our com- 
pany. This storm continued eight days, in which time it 
would move compassion to see how miserably the passengers 
were tumbled to and fro, on all sides of the ship ; inso- 
much, that the mariners, in .the performance of their duty, 
were compelled to tread upon them. ' This boisterous weather 
being over, we had very favorable gales again, till we came 
to the tropic of Cancer. This tropic is an imaginary cir- 
cle which astronomers have invented in the heavens, lim- 
iting the progress of the sun towards the north pole. It is 
placed in latitude 23° 30'. Here we were baptized a second 
time, as before. The French always perform this ceremony 
at the tropic of Cancer, as also under the tropic of Capricorn. 
In this part of the world we had very favorable weather, at 
which we were very glad, because 0/ our great want of water ; 
for that element was so scarce with us. that we were stinted to 
two half pints a man, every day. 

About the latitude of Barbadoes, we met an English frigate, 
or privateer, who first began to give us chase ; but finding her- 
self not to exceed us in force, presently got away. Hereupon, 
we pursued her, firing several guns, eight pounders, at her ; 
but at length she escaped, and we returned to our course. 
Soon after, we came within sight of Martinico. We were 
bent to the coast of the Isle of St. Peter, but were frustrated 
by a storm which took us hereabouts. Hence we resolved to 
steer to Guadalupe, yet we could not reach this island, by 
reason of the said storm ; so that we directed our course to the 
Isle of Tortuga, being the very same land we were bound to. 
We passed along the coast of Punta Rica, which is extremely 
agreeable and delightful to the sight, being adorned with beauti- 
ful woods, even to the tops of the mountains. Then we discov- 
ered Hispaniola, (of which I shall give a description,) and we 
coasted about it till we came to Tortuga, our desired port. 
Here we anchored July 7, in the same year, not having lost 
one man in the voyage. We landed the goods that belonged 
to the West India Company, and, soon after, the ship was sent 
to Cal de Sac, with some passengers. 



20 * THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER II. 

* 

A. Description of Tortuga, and of the Fruits and Plants there. — TIow the 
French first settled there, at two several Times, and forced out the Spaniards. 
— The Author twice sold in the said Island. 

The Island of Tortuga is situate on the north side of His.- 
paniola, in latitude 20° 30'. Its just extent is threescore leagues 
about. The Spaniards, who gave name to this island, called 
it so from the shape 1 of the land, in some manner resembling a 
great sea-tortoise, called by them Tortuga-de-mar. The coun- 
try is very mountainous, and full of rocks, and yet thick of 
lofty trees, that grow upon the hardest of those rocks, without 
partaking of a softer soil. w Hence it comes that their roots, for 
the greatest part, are seen naked, entangled among the rocks 
like the branching of ivy against our walls. That part of this 
island which stretches to the north is totally uninhabited. 
The reason is, first, because it is incommodious and unhealthy; 
and, secondly, for the ruggedness of the coast, that gives no 
access to the shore, unless among rocks almost inaccessible. 
For this cause, it is peopled only on the south part, which has 
only one port, indifferently good. Yet this harbor has two en- 
tries, or channels, which afford passage to ships of seventy 
guns, the port itself being without danger, and capable of re- 
ceiving a great number of vessels. The inhabited parts, of 
which the first is called the Lowlands, or Low Country; this 
is the chief among the rest, because it contains the port afore- 
said. The town is called Cayona, and here live the chiefest 
and richest planters of the island. The second part is called 
the Middle Plantation ; its soil is yet almost new, being only 
known to be good for tobacco. The third is named Ringot, 
and is situate towards the west part of the island. The 
fourth, and last, is called the Mountain, in which place were 
made the first plantations upon this island. 

As to the wood that grows here, we have already said that 
the trees are exceedingly tall, and pleasing toihe sight, whence 
no man will doubt but they may be applied to several uses. 
Such is the yellow saunder, which by the inhabitants is called 
bois de chandelyOT, in English, candle-wood, because it burns 
like a candle, and serves them with light while they fish by 
night. Here grows, also, Lignum Sanctilm, or Guaiacum. 
Its virtues are very well known, more especially to those who 
observe not the seventh commandment, and are given to im- 
pure copulations! — physicians drawing hence, in several com- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 21 

positions, the greatest antidote for venereal diseases, as also for 
cold and viscous humors. The trees, likewise, which afford 
gum-mi elemi, grow here in great abundance, as doth radix Chi- 
na, or China root. Yet this is not so good as that of other parts 
of the western world. It is very white and soft, and serves for 
pleasant, food to the wild boars, when they can find nothing 
else. This island, also, is not deficient in aloes, nor an infi- 
nite number of the other medicinal herbs, which may please 
the curiosity of such as are given to their contemplation. 
Moreover, for building of ships, or any other sort of architect- 
ure, here are found several sorts of timber. The fruits, like- 
wise, which grow here abundantly, are nothing inferior, in 
quantity or quality, to what other islands produce. I shall 
name only some of the most ordinary and common. Such are 
magniot, potatoes, abajou apples, yannas, bacones, paquays, ca- 
rosoles, mamayns, annananes, and divers other sorts, which I 
omit to specify. Here grow, likewise, in great numbers, those 
trees called palmettoes or palmites, whence is drawn a certain 
juice, which serves the inhabitants instead of wine, and whose 
leaves cover their houses, instead of tiles. 

In this island aboundeth, also, the wild boar. The governor 
hath prohibited the hunting of them with dogs, fearing lest, 
the island being but small, the whole race of them, in a short 
time, should be destroyed. The reason why he thought con- 
venient to preserve these wild beasts, was, that, i'n case of any 
invasion, the inhabitants might sustain themselves with their 
food, especially were they once constrained to retire to the 
woods and mountains. Yet this sort of game is almost impeded 
by itself, by reason of the many rocks and precipices, which, 
for the greatest part, are covered with little shrubs, very green, 
and thick, whence the huntsmen have oftentimes fallen, and 
left us the sad remembrance of many a memorable disaster. 

At a certain time of the year there resort to Tortuga large 
flocks of wild pigeons, and then the inhabitants feed on them 
very plentifully, having more than they can consume, and 
leaving totally to their repose all other sorts of fowl, both wild 
and tame ; that so, in the absence of the pigeons, these may 
supply their place. But as nothing in the universe, though 
never so pleasant, can be found, but what hath something of 
bitterness with it, the very symbol of this truth we see in 
the aforesaid pigeons ; for these, the season being past, can 
• scarce be touched with the tongue, they become so extremely 
lean, and bitter, even to admiration. The reason of this bit- 
terness is attributed to a certain seed, which they eat about that 
time, even as bitter as gall. About the sea-shores, every 



22 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

where, are found great multitudes of crabs, both of laud and 
sea, and both sorts very big. These are good to feed servants 
and slaves, whose palates they please, but are very hurtful to 
the sight ; besides, being eaten too often, they cause great gid- 
diness in the head, with much weakness of the brain, so that, 
very frequently, they are deprived of sight for a quarter of an 
hour. 

The French, having settled in the Isle of St. Christopher, 
planted there a sort of trees, of which, at present, there pos- 
sibly may be greater quantities, with the timber whereof they 
made longboats and hoys, which they sent thence westward, 
well manned and victualled, to discover other islands. These, 
setting sail from St. Christopher, came within sight of His- 
paniola, where they arrived with abundance of joy. Having 
landed, they marched into the country, where they found large 
quantities of cattle, such as cows, bulls, horses, and wild boars ; 
but finding no great profit in these animals, unless they could 
enclose them, and knowing, likewise, the island to be pretty 
well peopled by the Spaniards, they thought it convenient to 
enter upon and seize the Island of Tortuga. This they per- 
formed without any difficulty, there being upon the island no 
more than ten or twelve Spaniards to guard it. These few 
men let the French come in peaceably, and possess the island 
for six months, without any trouble. Meanwhile, they passed 
and repassed, with their canoes, to Hispaniola, from whence 
they transported many people, and at last began to plant the 
whole Island of Tortuga. The few Spaniards remaining 
there, perceiving the French to increase their number daily, 
began at last to repine at their prosperity, and grudge them the 
possession. Hence they gave notice to others of their nation, 
their neighbors, who sent several boats, well armed and manned, 
to dispossess the French. This expedition succeeded accord- 
ing to their desires ; for the new possessors, seeing the great 
number of Spaniards, fled, with all they had, to the woods, 
and hence, by night, they wafted over with canoes to the Island 
of Hispaniola. This they the more easily performed, having 
no women or children with them, nor any great substance to 
carry away. Here they also retire into the woods, both to seek 
for food, and from thence, with secrecy, to give intelligence to 
others of their own faction ; judging for certain, that within a 
little while they should be in a capacity to hinder the Span- 
iards from fortifying in Tortuga. 

Meanwhile, the Spaniards of the great island ceased not to 
seek after their new guests, the French, with intent to root 
them out of the woods, if possible, or cause them to perish 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 23 

with hunger; but this design soon failed, having found that 
the French were masters both of good guns, powder, and bul- 
lets. Here, therefore, the fugitives waited, for a certain oppor- 
tunity, wherein they knew the Spaniards were to come from 
Tortuga, with arms and a great number of men, to join with 
those of the greater island, for their destruction. When this 
occasion offered, they, in the mean while deserting the woods 
where they were, returned to Tortuga, and dispossessed the 
small number of Spaniards that remained at home. Having 
so done, they fortified themselves the best they could, thereby 
to prevent the return of the Spaniards, in case they should 
attempt it. Moreover, they sent immediately to the governor 
of St. Christopher's, craving his aid and relief, and demanding 
of him a governor, the better to be united among themselves, 
and strengthened on all occasions. The governor of St. 
Christopher's received their petition with much satisfaction, 
and, without delay, sent Monsieur Le Passeur to them, in qual- 
ity of a governor, together with a ship full of men, and all 
necessaries for their establishment and defence. No sooner 
had they received this recruit, but the governor commanded a 
fortress to be built upon the top of a high rock, from whence 
he could hitider the entrance of any ships, or other vessels, to 
the port. To this fort no other access could be had, than by 
almost climbing through a very narrow passage, that was ca- 
pable only of receiving two persons at once, and those not 
without difficulty. In the middle of this rock was a great cav- 
ity, which now serves for a storehouse. Besides, here was 
great convenience for raising a battery. The fort being fin- 
ished, the governor commanded two guns to be mounted, 
which could not be done without great toil and labor; as, also, 
a house to be built within the fort ; and afterwards the narrow 
way, that led to the said fort, to be broken and demolished, 
leaving no other ascent thereto than by a ladder. Within the 
fort gushes out a plentiful fountain of pure fresh water, suffi- 
cient to refresh a garrison of a thousand men. Being possessed 
of these conveniences, and the security these things might 
promise, the French began to people the island, and each of 
them to seek their living, some by hunting, others by planting 
tobacco, and others by cruisin'g, and robbing upon the coasts 
of the Spanish islands, which trade is continued by them to 
this day. 

The Spaniards, notwithstanding, could not behold, but with 
jealous eyes, the daily increase of the French in Tortuga, fear- 
ing lest, in time, they might by them be dispossessed also of 
Hispaniola. Thus taking an opportunity, (when many of the 



24 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

French were abroad at sea, and others employed in hunting,) 
with eight hundred men, in several canoes, they landed again 
in Tortuga, almost without being perceived by the French ; 
but finding that the governor had cut down many trees, for the 
better discovery of any enemy, in case of an assault, as also 
that nothing of consequence could be done without great guns, 
they consulted about the fittest place for raising a battery. 
This place was soon concluded to be the top of a mountain 
which was in sight, seeing that from thence alone they could 
level their guns at the fort, which now lay open to them since 
the cutting down of the trees by the new possessors. Hence 
they resolved to open a way for the carriage of some pieces of 
ordnance to the top. This mountain is somewhat high, and 
the upper part thereof plain, from whence the whole island 
may be viewed. The sides thereof are very rugged, by reason 
a great number of inaccessible rocks do surround it ; so that 
the ascent was very difficult, and would always have been the 
same, had not the Spaniards undergone the immense labor and 
toil of making the way before mentioned, as I shall now re- 
late. 

The Spaniards had with them many slaves and Indians, 
laboring men, whom they call matades, or, in English, half- 
yellow men. These they ordered with iron tools to dig a way 
through the rocks. This they performed with the greatest 
speed imaginable, and through this way, by the help of many 
ropes and pullies, they at last made shift to get up two pieces 
of ordnance, wherewith they made a battery next day, to play 
. on the fort. Meanwhile the French, knowing these designs, 
prepared for a defence, (while the Spaniards were busy about 
the battery,) sending notice every where to their companions, 
for help. Thus the hunters of the island all joined together, 
and with them all the pirates, who were not already too 
far from home. These landed by night at Tortuga, lest 
they should be seen by the Spaniards ; and under the same 
obscurity of the night, they all together, by a back way, 
climbed the mountain where the Spaniards were posted, which 
they did the more easily, being acquainted with these rocks. 
They came up at the very instant that the Spaniards, who 
were above, were preparing to shoot at the fort, not knowing 
in the least of their coming. Here they set upon them at their 
backs, with such fury, as forced the greatest part to precipitate 
themselves from the top to the bottom, and dash their bodies 
in pieces. Few or none escaped ; for if any remained alive, 
they were put to the sword. Some Spaniards did still keep 
the bottom of the mountain ; but these, hearing the shrieks 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 25 

and cries of them that were killed, and believing some tragical 
revolution to be above, fi^d immediately towards the sea, .de- 
spairing ever to regain the Island of Tortuga. 

The governors of this island behaved themselves as propri- 
etors, and absolute lords thereof, till 1664, when the West In- 
dia Company of France took possession thereof, and sent 
thither, for their governor, Monsieur Ogeron. These planted 
the colony for themselves by their factors and servants, think- 
ing to drive some considerable trade from thence with the 
Spaniards, even as the Hollanders do from Curasao. But this 
design did not answer; for with other nations they could drive 
no trade, by reason they could not establish any secure com- 
merce, from the beginning, with their own ; forasmuch as, at 
the first institution of this company in France, they agreed 
with the pirates, hunters, and planters, first possessors of Tor- 
tuga, that these should buy all their necessaries from the said 
company upon trust. And though this agreement was put in 
execution, yet the factors of the company soon after found 
that they could not recover either moneys or returns from those 
people, that they were constrained to bring some armed men 
into the island, in behalf of the company, to get in some of 
their payments. But neither this endeavor, nor any other, 
could prevail towards the settling a second trade with those of 
the island. Hereupon the company recalled their factors, giv- 
ing them orders to sell all that was their own, in the said plan- 
tation, both the servants belonging to the company, (which 
were sold, some for twenty, others for thirty pieces of eight,) 
as also all other merchandises and properties. And thus all their 
designs fell to the ground. 

On this occasion I was also sold, being a servant under the 
said company, in whose service 1 left France. But my fortune 
was very bad, for I fell into the hands of the most cruel and 
perfidious man that ever was born, who was then governor, or 
rather lieutenant-general, of that island. This man treated me 
with all the hard usage imaginable, yea, with that of hunger, 
with which I thought I should have perished inevitably. 
Withal, he was willing to let me buy my freedom and liberty, 
but not under the rate of three hundred pieces of eight, I not 
being master of one at a time in the world. At last, through 
the manifold miseries I endured, as also affliction of mind, I 
was thrown into a dangerous sickness. This misfortune, added 
to the rest, was the cause of my happiness ; for my wicked 
master, seeing my condition, began to fear lest he should lose 
his moneys with my life. Hereupon he sold me a second time 
to a surgeon, for seventy pieces of eight. Being with this sec- 



26 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ond master, I began soon to recover my health, through the good 
usage I received, he being much more humane and civil than 
my first patron. He gave me both clothes and very good food, 
and after I had served him but one year, he offered me my lib- 
erty, with only this condition, that I should pay him one hun- 
dred pieces of eight, when I was in a capacity so to do, which 
kind proposal of his I could not but accept with infinite joy 
and gratitude. 

Being now at liberty, though like Adam when he was first 
created, that is, naked and destitute of all human necessaries, 
not knowing how to get my living, I determined to enter into 
the order of the pirates or robbers at sea. Into this society I 
was received with common consent, both of the superior and 
vulgar sort, where I continued till 1672. Having assisted 
them in all their designs and attempts, and served them in 
many notable exploits, of which, hereafter, I shall give the 
reader a true account, I returned to my own native country. 
But before I begin my relation, I shall say something of the 
Island of Hispaniola, which lies towards the western part of 
America, as also give my reader a brief description thereof, ac- 
cording to my slender ability and experience. 



CHAPTER III. 

A Description of Hispaniola. 

The large and rich island called Hispaniola is situate from 
latitude 17° to 19° ; the circumference is three hundred 
leagues ; the extent from east to west, one hundred and twenty ; 
its breadth almost fifty, being broader or narrower at certain 
places. This island was first discovered by Christopher Co- 
lumbus, A. D. 1492, he being sent for this purpose by Ferdi- 
nand, king of Spain, from which time to this present the Span- 
iards have been continually possessors thereof. There are upon 
this island very good and strong cities, towns, and hamlets, as 
well as a great number of pleasant country-houses and planta- 
tions, the effects of the care and industry of the Spaniards, its 
inhabitants. 

The chief city and metropolis hereof is Santo Domingo, being 
dedicated to St. Dominick, from whom it derives its name. It 
is situate towards the south, and affords a most excellent pros- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 27 

pect, the country round about being embellished with innu- 
merable rich plantations, as also verdant meadows and fruitful 
gardens, all which produce plenty and variety of excellent, 
pleasant fruits, according to the nature of those countries. 
The governor of the island resides in this city, which is, as it 
were, the storehouse of all the cities, towns, and villages, which 
hence export and provide themselves with all necessaries for 
human life ; and yet hath it this particularity above many 
other cities, that it entertains no commerce with any nation 
but its own, the Spaniards. The greatest part of the inhabit- 
ants are rich and substantial merchants or shopkeepers. 

Another city of this island is San Jago, or St. James, being 
consecrated to that apostle. This is an open place, without walls 
or castle, situate in latitude 19°. The inhabitants are generally 
hunters and planters, the adjacent territory and soil being very 
proper for the said exercises. The city is surrounded with 
large and delicious fields, as much pleasing to the view as those 
of Santo Domingo ; and these abound with beasts, both wild 
and tarrje, yielding vast numbers of skins and hides, very profit- 
able to the owners. 

In the south part of this island is another city, called Nues- 
tra Sennora de Alia Gracia. This territory produces great 
quantities of cocoa, whereof the inhabitants make great store 
of the richest chocolate. Here grow, also, ginger and to- 
bacco, and much tallow is made of the beasts which are here- 
abouts hunted. 

The inhabitants of this beautiful Island of Hispaniola often 
resort in their canoes to the Isle of Savona, not far distant, 
where is their chief fishery, especially of tortoises. Hither 
those fish constantly resort in great multitudes, at certain sea- 
sons, there to lay their eggs, burying them in the sands of the 
shoal, where, by the heat of the sun, which in those parts is 
very ardent, they are hatched. This Island of Savona has 
little or nothing that is worthy consideration, being so very 
barren by reason of its sandy soil'. True it is, that here grows 
some small quantity of Lignum Sanctum, or guaiacum, of 
whose use we say something in another place. 

Westward of Santo Domingo is another great village, called 
El Pueblo de Aso, or the town of Aso. The inhabitants 
thereof drive great traffic with those of another village, in the 
very middle of the island, and is called San Juan de Goavc, 
or St. John of Goave. This is environed with a magnificent 
prospect of gardens, woods, and meadows. Its territory ex- 
tends above twenty leagues in length, and grazes a great num- 
ber of wild bulls and cows. In this village scarce dwell any 



28 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

other than hunters and butchers, who flay the beasts that are 
killed. These are for the most part a mongrel sort of people, 
some of .which are born of white European people and ne- 
groes, and called mulattoes ; others of Indians and white peo- 
ple, and termed mesticoes. But others come of negroes and 
Indians, and are called alcatraces. Besides which sorts of peo- 
ple, there are several other species and races, both here and in 
other places of the West Indies, of whom this account may be 
given : that the Spaniards love better the negro women in 
those western parts, or the tawny Indian females, than their 
own white European race ; when as, peradventure. the negroes 
and Indians have greater inclinations to the white women or 
those that come near them, the tawny, than their own. From 
the said village are exported yearly vast quantities of tallow 
and hides, they exercising no other traffic. For as to the lands 
in this place, they are not cultivated, by reason of the exces- 
sive dryness of the soil. These are the chiefest places that the 
Spaniards possess in this island, from the Cape of Lobos 
towards St. John de Goave, unto the Cape of Samana, nigh 
the sea, on the north side, and from the eastern part towards 
the sea, called Punta de Espada. All the rest of the island 
is possessed by the French, who are also planters and hunters. 

This island hath very good ports for ships from the Cape of 
Lobos to the Cape of Tiburon, on the west side thereof. In 
this space there are no less than four ports, exceeding in good- 
ness, largeness, and security, even the very best of England. 
Besides these, from the Cape of Tiburon to the Cape of Donna 
Maria, there are two very excellent ports, and from this cape to 
the Cape of St. Nicholas there are no less than twelve others. 
Every one of these ports hath also the confluence of two or 
three good rivers, in which are great plenty of several sorts of 
fish, very pleasing to the palate. The country hereabouts is 
well watered with large and deep rivers and brooks, so that this 
part of the land may easily be cultivated without any great 
fear of droughts, because of these excellent streams. The sea 
coasts and shores are also very pleasant, to which the tortoises 
resort in large numbers, to lay their eggs. 

This island was formerly very well peopled on the north 
side, with many towns and villages ; but these, being ruined 
by the Hollanders, were at last, for the greatest part, deserted 
by the Spaniards. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 29 

CHAPTER IV. 

Of the Fruits, Trees, and Animals of Hispaniola. 

The spacious fields of this island commonly are five or six 
leagues in length, the beauty whereof is- so pleasing to the eye, 
that, together with the great variety of their natural produc- 
tions, they captivate the senses of the beholder. For here, at 
once, they not only, with diversity of objects, recreate the 
sight, but with many of the same do also please the smell, and 
with most contribute delights to the taste ; also they flatter and 
excite the appetite, especially with the multitudes of oranges 
and lemons here growing, both sweet and sour, and those that 
participate of both tastes, and are only pleasantly tartish. Be- 
sides, here abundantly grow several sorts of fruit ; such are cit- 
rons, toronjas, and limas, in English not improperly called 
crab-lemons. True it is, that the lemons exceed not here the 
bigness of a hen's egg, which smallness distinguishes them 
from those of Spain, most frequently used in these our north- 
ern countries. The date-trees, which here cover very spacious 
plains, are exceeding tall, which, notwithstanding, doth not of- 
fend, but delight the view. Their height is from one hundred 
and fifty to two hundred feet, being destitute of branches to the 
very tops. Within it is a certain pleasant white substance, 
like that of white cabbage, whence the branches and leaves 
sprout, in which the seeds or dates are contained. Every 
month one of those branches falls, and at the same time another 
sprouts out ; but the seed ripens not but once a year. The 
dates are food extremely coveted by the hedgehogs. The 
white substance at the top of the tree is used by the Spaniards 
as cabbage, in Europe, they cutting it in slices, and boiling it 
in their ollas, with all sorts of meat. The leaves of this date 
tree are seven or eight feet long, and three or four broad, being 
very fit to cover houses, for they defend from rain equally with 
the best tiles, though never so rudely huddled together. They 
use them, also, to wrap up smoked flesh, and to make buckets 
to carry water in, though not durable for above six, seven, or 
eight days. These cabbages, for so we shall call them, are 
greenish on the outside, though inwardly very white, whence 
may be separated a rind, very like to parchment, being fit to 
write on, as we do on paper. The bodies of these trees are of 
a huge thickness, which two men can hardly compass with 
their arms ; and yet they cannot properly be termed woody, 
.3* 



30 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

but only three or four inches deep in thickness, all the rest of 
the internal part being very soft ; so that, paring oif those 
three or- four inches of woody substance, the remaining part 
may be sliced like new cheese. They wound them three or 
four feet above the root, and, making an incision in the body, 
from thence gently distils a liquor, which, in a short time fer- 
menting, becomes as strong as the richest wine, and which 
easily inebriates, if not used with moderation. The French 
call these palm-trees Frank-palms, and they only grow here, 
or elseAvhere in saltish grounds. 

Besides these palm-trees which we have mentioned, there 
are in Hispaniola four other species of palms, distinguished by 
the names of latanier, palma espinosa, or prickle palm, palma 
a chapelet, or rosary palm. The latanier palm is not so tall as 
the wine palm, but almost of the same shape, only the leaves 
are like the fans our women use. They grow mostly in grav- 
elly and sandy ground, their circumference being of seven feet, 
more or less. The body hath many prickles or thorns, half a 
foot long, very sharp and pungent. It produces its seed, like 
as that above mentioned, which serves for food to the wild 
beasts. 

The prickle palm, so called because it is infinitely full of 
prickles, from the root to the very leaves, much more than the 
precedent. With these prickles, the barbarous Indians use to 
torment the prisoners they take in battle. They tie them to a 
tree, then taking these thorns, they put them into little pellets 
of cotton, dipped in oil, and stick them into the sides of the 
miserable prisoners, as thick as the bristles of a hedgehog, 
which cause an incredible torment to the patient. Then they 
set them on fire, and if the tormented prisoner sing in the 
, midst of his torments, he is esteemed a courageous soldier, who 
neither fears his enemies nor their torments ; but if, on the 
contrary, he cries out, they esteem him a coward, and un- 
worthy of any memory. This custom was told me by an In- 
dian, who said he had used his enemies thus oftentimes. The 
like cruelties to these many Christians have seen, while they 
lived among those barbarians. But returning to the prickle 
palm, I shall only tell you that this palm-tree in this only dif- 
fers from the latanier, that the leaves are like those of the 
Frank-palm ; its seed is like that of the other palm-trees, being 
only much bigger and rounder, and full of little kernels, as 
pleasing to the taste as our walnuts in Europe. This tree 
grows for the most part in the marshes and low grounds of the 
sea-coast. 

The wine palm is so called from the abundance of wine 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 31 

gathered from it. This palm grows in high and rocky moun- 
tains, not exceeding the height of forty or fifty feet, but yet of 
an extraordinary shape or form. For from the root up half 
way, it is only three or four inches thick ; but upwards, some- 
thing above two thirds of its height, it is as big and as thick 
as an ordinary bucket or milk-pail ; within it is full of a cer- 
tain matter, very much like the tender stalk of a white cab- 
bage, which is very juicy, of a liquor very pleasing to the pal- 
ate. This liquor, after fermentation and settling of the grounds, 
becomes very good and clear wine, without any great pains ; 
for, having wounded the tree with a hatchet, they make a 
square incision or orifice in it, through which they bruise the 
said matter till it may be squeezed out, or expressed with the 
hands, they needing no other instrument. With the leaves 
they make vessels, not only to settle and purify the said liquor, 
but also to drink it. It bears its fruit like to other palms, but 
very small, being like cherries. The taste is very good, but 
dangerous to the throat, causing extreme pains, which produce 
malignant quinsies. 

The palm a chapelet, or rosary palm, so called by the 
French and Spaniards, because its seed is very fit to make ro- 
saries or beads to say prayers upon, they being small, hard, and 
easily bored. This fourth species grows on the tops of the 
highest mountains, and is of an excessive tallness, very straight, 
and hath very few leaves. 

Here grows, also, a certain sort of apricot-trees, whose fruit 
equals in bigness that of our ordinary melons. The color is 
like ashes, and the taste the very same with that of ours in 
Europe ; the stones of this fruit being as big as a hen's egg. 
On these the wild boars feed very deliciously, and fatten to 
admiration. 

The trees called caremites are very like to our pear-trees, 
whose fruits resemble our Damascene plums, or prunes of Eu- 
rope, being of a very pleasant and agreeable taste. This fruit 
is black on the inside, and the kernels thereof sometimes only 
two, sometimes three or four, as big as a lupine. This plum 
affords no less pleasant food to the wild boars than the apricots 
above mentioned, only it is not so commonly found, nor in 
such quantities. 

The genipa-trees are all over this island, being like our 
cherry-trees, though the branches are more dilated. The fruit 
thereof is ash-colored, as big as two fists, which is full of many 
prickles or points, involved under a thin membrane or skin, 
which, if not taken away at. the time of eating, causes great 
obstructions and gripings of the belly. Before this fruit grows 



32 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ripe, if pressed, it affords a juice as black as ink, being fit to 
write withal, but the letters disappear within nine days, the 
paper remaining as white as if it never had been written on. 
The wood of this tree is very strong, solid, and hard, good to 
build ships, seeing it lasts many years in the water without 
putrefaction. . 

Besides these, divers other sorts of trees are natives of this 
island, producing very excellent and pleasant fruits. Of these 
I shall omit to name several, knowing there are learned authors 
who have described and searched them with greater attention 
and curiosity ; but I shall mention some few more, in particu- 
lar. Such are the cedars, which this part of the world pro- 
duces in prodigious quantities. The French call them acajou, 
and they find them useful for building ships and canoes. 
These canoes are like little wherry boats, being made of only 
one tree, hollowed, and fitted for the sea. They are so swift, 
that they may be well called Neptune's post-horses. The In- 
dians make these canoes without any iron instruments, by only 
burning the trees nigh the root, and then so governing the fire, 
as nothing is burnt more than what they would have. Some 
have hatchets of flint, with which they scrape or pare off what- 
soever is burnt too far ; and thus, by fire only, they give them 
that shape which renders them capable of navigating sixty or 
eighty leagues, with ordinary security. 

As to medicinal productions, here is to be found the tree that 
affords the gum elemi, used in our apothecary shops, likewise 
guaiacum or lignum sanctum, lignum aloes, aloe wood, cassia 
lignea, China roots, with several others. The tree mapou, be- 
sides that it is medicinal, is also used for making canoes, being 
very thick ; yet it is much inferior to the acajou, or cedar, 
being somewhat spongy, sucking in much water, which ren- 
ders it dangerous in navigation. The tree called acoma hath 
its wood very hard and heavy, and of the color of palm, which 
renders it very fit to make oars for the sugar mills. Here are, 
also, in great quantities, brasilete, or brasil wood, and that 
which the Spaniards call manchanilla. 

Brasil wood is now very well known in Holland and the 
Low Countries. It is called, also, by the Spaniards,' lenna de 
peje palo. It serves only, or chiefly, for the trade of dyers. It 
grows abundantly along the sea-coasts, especially in two places, 
called Jacmel and Jaquina. These are two commodious ports, 
or bays, capable of receiving ships of the greatest bulk. 

The tree called manchanilla, or dwarf apple-tree, grows near 
the sea-shore, being naturally so low that its branches, though 
never so short, always touch the water. It bears a fruit some- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 33 

what like a sweet-scented apple, which yet is of a very ven- 
omous quality ; for these apples being eaten by any person, he 
instantly changes color, and such a thirst, seizes him as all the 
water of the Thames cannot quench, he dying, raving mad, 
within a little while. But what is more strange, the fish that 
eat, as it often happens, of this fruit, are also poisonous. This 
tree affords a liquor, thick and white, like the fig-tree, which, 
if touched by the hand, raises blisters, and these are as red as 
if it had been scalded. One day, being hugely tormented with 
mosquitoes or gnats, and being as yet unacquainted with the 
nature of this tree, I cut a branch, to serve me for a fan ; but 
all my face was swelled the next day, and filled with blisters, 
as if it were burnt, to such a degree that I was blind for 
three days. 

Yaco is another sort of tree, so called by the Spaniards, 
growing by the river sides. This bears a fruit like our bullace, 
or damson plums, which, when ripe, is extremely coveted by 
the wild boars, with which they fatten as much as our hogs do 
with the sweetest acorns of Spain. These trees love a sandy 
ground, yet are so low, that their branches being very large, they 
take up a great circumference, almost couching on the ground. 
The trees named abelcoses bear fruit of like color with the 
yacos above mentioned, of the bigness of melons, the seeds, 
or kernels, being as big as eggs. The substance of this fruit 
is yellow, and of a pleasant taste, which the poorest among the 
French eat instead of bread, the wild boars not caring at all for 
it. These trees grow very tall and thick, being somewhat like 
our largest pear-trees. 

As to the insects of this island, I shall only remark three 
sorts of flies, which excessively torment all human bodies, but 
especially such as were never or but little acquainted with 
these countries. The first sort are as big as our common horse 
flies in Europe, and these, darting themselves upon men's 
bodies, there stick, and suck their blood till they can fly no 
longer. Their importunity obliges to make almost continual 
use of branches of trees to fan them away. The Spaniards in 
those parts call them musquitoes, or gnats, but the French call 
them maranguines. The second sort is no bigger than a grain of 
sand ; these make no buzzing noise, as the preceding species do, 
so are less avoidable, being able also, through their smallness, to 
penetrate the finest linen, or cloth. The hunters are forced tc 
anoint their faces with hog's grease, to defend themselves from 
their stings. By night, in their huts or cottages, they con? 
stantly burn the leaves of tobacco, without which smoke they 
could not rest. True it is, in the day-time they are not very 



34 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

troublesome, in case any wind be stirring, for tin's, though never 
so little, dissipates them. The gnats of the third species ex- 
ceed not the bigness of a grain of mustard ; their color is red. 
These sting not at all, but bite so sharply as to create little 
ulcers, whence it often happens that the face swells, and is ren- 
dered frightful to the view. These are chiefly troublesome by 
day, even from morning till sunset, after which they take their 
rest, and permit human bodies to do so. The Spaniards call 
these rojados, and the French, calarodes. 

The insects which the Spaniards call cochinillas, and the 
English, glow-worms, are also to be found here. These are 
very much like those of Europe, but somewhat bigger, and 
longer. They have two little specks on their heads, which by 
night 'give so much light, that three or four of them together, 
upon a tree, seem at a distance like a bright, shining fire. I had 
once three of these cochinillas in my cottage, which continued 
there till past midnight, shining so brightly, that, without any 
other light, I could easily read in any book, of never so small 
a print. I attempted to bring some of them to Europe, but as 
soon as they came into a colder climate, they died. They lost, 
also, their shining, upon the change of air, before their deaths. 
This shining is so great that the Spaniards, with great reason, 
call them moscas dc fucgo, that is, fire-flies. 

There are. also, in Hispaniola, a great number of grillones, 
or crickets. These are of an extraordinary magnitude, if com- 
pared to ours, and so noisy that they are ready to burst them- 
selves with singing, if any person comes near them. Here is 
not a less number of reptiles, as serpents, &c, but by a partic- 
ular providence of the Creator, these have no poison, neither 
do they any other harm than catch fowls, but more espe- 
cially pullets, pigeons, and the like. Oftentimes these serpents 
or snakes are useful in houses, to clear them of rats and mice ; 
for with great cunning they counterfeit their shrieks, and hereby 
deceive and catch them at their pleasure. Having taken them, 
they only suck their blood at first ; then, throwing away the 
guts, they swallow almost entire the rest of the body, which 
they readily digest into soft excrements. Another sort of rep- 
tiles of this island is called cazadorcs de moscas, or fly-catch- 
ers. This name was given to this reptile by the Spaniards, by 
reason they never could experiment that it lived upon any other 
food than flies. Hence it cannot be said that this creature 
causes any harm to the inhabitants, but rather benefit, seeing it 
consumes the vexatious and troublesome flies. 

Here are, also, many land tortoises. These breed mostly in 
mud, and fields overflowed with water. The inhabitants eat 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 35 

them, as very good food. But here are a sort of very hideous 
spiders ; these are as big as an ordinary egg, and their feet as 
long as those of the biggest sea-crabs. They are very hairy 
withal, and have four black teeth, like a rabbit's both in big- 
ness and shape ; but their bitings are not venomous, though 
they can bite very sharp, and do very commonly. They breed 
mostly in the roofs of houses. In this island, also, is the insect 
called, in Latin, rnillepes, and in Greek, scolopendria. or many 
feet, and likewise scorpions. Yet, by the providence of Nature, 
neither the one nor the other are poisonous ; for though they 
often bite, yet the wounds require not any medicament for their 
cure ; and though their bitings cause some inflammation and 
swelling at first; yet these symptoms disappear of their own 
accord. Thus in Hispaniola no venomous animal is found. 

After the insects, I shall say something of that terrible beast 
called cayman. This is a species of the crocodile, wherewith 
this island abounds. Among these caymans, some are found 
to be very large and horrible to the sight. Some have been 
seen no less than seventy feet long, and twelve broad. Yet 
more marvellous than their bulk is their cunning and subtilty. 
Being hungry, they place themselves nigh the sides of rivers, 
especially at the fords where cattle come to drink, or wade 
over. Here they lie without any motion, resembling an old 
tree fallen into the river, floating upon the waters. Yet they 
go not far from the banks, but continually lurch in the same 
place, till some wild boar or cow come to drink or refresh 
themselves ; and then, with great activity, they seize on them 
with no less fierceness, and, dragging the prey into the water, 
stifle it. But what is more admirable, is, that three or four 
days before the caymans go upon this design, they eat nothing 
at all, but, diving into the river, they swallow a hundred weight 
or two of stones ; with these they render themselves heavier 
than before, and add to their natural strength, (which is very 
great,) thereby to make their assault the more terrible and 
secure. The prey thus stifled, they let it lie four or five days 
under the water, untouched, for they cannot eat the least bit 
unless it is hall rotten : but when it is so much putrified as is 
most pleasing to their palates, they devour it with great appetite 
and voracity. If they can light on any hides of beasts, placed by 
the inhabitants in the fields for drying, they drag them into the 
water, leaving them for some days, well loaded with stones, till 
the hair falls oft' ; then they eat them with no less appetite 
than they would the animals themselves. I have seen myself, 
many times, like things to these I write ; but beside my own 
experience, many writers of natural things have made entire 



36 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

treatises of these animals, describing their shape, magnitude, 
voracity, and other qualities. A certain person, of good credit, 
told me that one day he "was by a river-side, washing his bar- 
aca, or tent. As soon as he began his work, a cayman fastened 
upon the tent, and dragged it under water. The man, desirous 
to save his tent, pulled, on the contrary, with all his strength, 
having in his mouth a butcher's knife, (with which, as it hap- 
pened, he was scraping the canvas,) to defend himself, in case 
of necessity. The cayman, angry at this, vaulted upon him 
out of the river, and drew him with great celerity into the 
water, endeavoring with his weight to stifle him. He, finding 
himself in the greatest extremity, almost crushed to death by 
that huge animal, with his knife he gave the cayman several 
wounds in the belly, with which he suddenly expired. Being 
thus delivered from danger, he drew the cayman out of the 
water, and opened the body, to satisfy his curiosity. In his 
stomach he found near a hundred weight of stones, each stone 
being almost as big as his fist. 

The caymans are ordinarily busied in catching flies, which 
they eagerly devour. The occasion is, because close to their 
skin they have little scales, which have a sweet scent, some- 
what like musk. This aromatic odor the flies love, and here 
they come to repose themselves, and sting. Thus, they both 
persecute each other continually, with an incredible hatred and 
antipathy. Their manner of procreating and hatching their 
young is thus : they approach the sandy banks of some river 
exposed to the south sun ; among these sands they lay their 
eggs, which afterwards they cover with their feet ; and here 
they find a young generation, hatched only by the heat of the 
sun. These, as soon as they are out of the shell, by natural 
instinct run to the water. Many times these eggs are destroyed 
by birds, that find them as they scrape among the sands. Here- 
upon the female caymans, when they fear the coming of any 
flocks of birds, oftentimes, by night, swallow these their eggs, 
and keep them in their stomachs till the danger is over, and 
then they bury them again, and, as I have told you, bring 
them forth again out of their bellies, till the season is come of 
their being hatched ; then, if the mother be nigh, they run to 
her, and play with her, as little whelps do with their dams. In 
this sort of sport, they will often run in and out of their 
mother's belly, even as rabbits into their holes. I myself have 
often spied them thus at play with their dams, over the water, 
upon the contrary banks of some river, and have disturbed 
their sport by throwing a stone that way, causing them on a 
sudden to creep into the mother's bowels for fear. The manner 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 37 

of procreating of these animals is always such as I have re- 
lated, and at the same time of the year ; for they meddle not 
with one another but in May. They call them in this country 
crocodiles, though in other places of the West Indies they go 
utider the name of caymans. 



CHAPTER V. 

Of all the Sorts of Quadrupeds and Birds of this Island : as also a Relation of 
the French Buccaneers. 

Beside the fruits which this island produces, whose plenty, 
as is said, surpasses all the island's of America, it abounds also 
with all sorts of quadrupeds, as horses, bulls, cows, wild boars, 
and others, very useful to mankind, not only for food, but for 
cultivating the ground, and the management of commerce. 

Here are vast numbers of wild dogs ; these destroy yearly 
many cattle ; for no sooner hath a cow calved, or a mare foaled, 
but these wild mastiffs devour the young, if they find not re- 
sistance from keepers and domestic dogs. They run up and 
down the woods and fields, commonly fifty, threescore, or more, 
together ; being withal so fierce that they will often assault an 
entire herd of wild boars, not ceasing to worry them till they 
have fetched down two or three. One day a French Buccaneer 
showed me a strange action of this kind : being in the fields a 
hunting together, we heard a great noise of dogs, which had 
surrounded a wild boar. Having tame dogs with us, we left 
them to the custody of our servants, being desirous to see the 
sport. Hence my companion and I climbed up two several 
trees, both for security and prospect. The wild boar, all alone, 
stood against a tree, defending himself with his tusks from a 
great number of dogs that enclosed him ; killed with his teeth, 
and wounded several of them. This bloody fight continued 
about an hour, the, wild boar, meanwhile, attempting many 
times to escape. At last flying, one dog leaping upon his back, 
fastened on his testicles, which at one pull he tore in pieces. 
The rest of the dogs, perceiving the courage of their compan- 
ion, fastened likewise on the boar, and presently killed him. 
This done, all of them, the first only excepted, laid themselves 
down upon the ground about the prey, and there peaceably 
continued, till he, the first and most courageous of the troop, 
had eat as much as he could. When this dog had left off, all 
4 



38 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



the rest fell in to take their share, till nothing was left. What 
ought we to infer from this notable action, performed by wild 
animals, but this: that even beasts themselves are not destitute 
of knowledge, and that they give us documents how to honor 
such as have deserved well ; even since these irrational animals 
did reverence and respect him that exposed his life to the great- 
est danger against the common enemy ? 

The governor of Tortuga, Monsieur Ogeron, finding that 
the wild dogs killed so many of the wild boars, that the hunt- 
ers of that island had much ado to find any, fearing lest that 
common sustenance of the island should fail', sent, for a great 
quantity of poison from France to destroy the wild mastitis. 
This was done A. D. 166S, by commanding horses to be killed 
and empoisoned, and laid open at certain places where the wild 
dogs used to resort. This being continued for six months, 
there were killed an incredible number; and yet all this could 
not exterminate and destroy the race, or scarce diminish them ; 
their number appearing almost as large as before. These wild 
dogs are easily tamed among men, even as tame as ordinary 
house dogs. The hunters of those parts, whenever they find 
a wild bitch with whelps, commonly take away the puppies, 
and bring them home ; which being grown up, they hunt much 
better than other do.^s. 

But here the curious reader may perhaps inquire how so many 
wild dogs came here. The occasion was, the Spaniards having 
possessed these isles, found them peopled with Indians, a bar- 
barous people, sensual and brutish, hating all labor, and only 
inclined to killing and making war against their neighbors; 
not out of ambition, but only because they agreed not with 
themselves in some common terms of language ; and perceiving 
the dominion of the Spaniards laid great restrictions upon their 
lazy and brutish customs, they conceived an irreconcilable ha- 
tred against them ; but especially because they saw them take 
possession of their kingdoms and dominions. Hereupon they 
made against them all the resistance they could, opposing every 
where their designs, to the utmost: and the Spaniards finding 
themselves cruelly hated by the Indians, and nowhere secure 
from their treacheries, resolved to extirpate and ruin them, since 
they could neither tame them by civility, nor conquer them 
with the sword. But the Indians, it being their custom to 
make the woods their chief places of defence, at present made 
these their refuge, whenever they fled from the Spaniards. 
Hereupon those first conquerors of the New World made use 
of dogs to range and search the intricatest thickets of woods 
and forests for those implacable and unconquerable enemies ; 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. '$9 

thus they forced them to leave their old refuge, and submit to 
the sword, seeing no milder usage would do it; hereupon they 
killed some of them, and, quartering their bodies, placed them 
in the highways, that others might take warning from such a 
punishment ; but this severity proved of ill consequence, for 
instead of frighting them and reducing them to civility, they 
conceived such horror of the Spaniards, that they resolved to 
detest and fly their sight forever ; hence the greatest part died 
in caves and subterraneous places of the woods and mountains, 
in which places I myself have often seen great numbers of 
human bones. The Spaniards, finding no more Indians to ap- 
pear about the woods, turned away a great number of dogs 
they had in their houses, and they, finding no masters to keep 
them, betook themselves to the woods and fields to hunt for 
food to preserve their lives; thus by degrees they became un- 
acquainted with houses, and grew wild. This is the truest ac- 
count I can give of the multitudes of wild dogs in these parts. 

But besides these wild mastiffs, here are also great numbers 
of wild horses every where all over the island. They are but 
low of stature, short-bodied, with great heads, long necks, and 
big or thick legs. In a word, they have nothing handsome in 
their shape". They run up and down, commonly in troops of 
two or three hundred together, one going always before to lead 
the multitude. When they meet any person travelling through 
the woods or fields, they stand still, suffering him to approach 
till he can almost touch them : and then suddenly starting, they 
betake themselves to flight, running away as fast as they can. 
The hunters catch them only for their skins, though sometimes 
they preserve their flesh likewise, which they harden with 
smoke, using it for provisions when they go to sea. 

Here would be also wild bulls and cows in great number, if 
by continual hunting they were not much diminished; yet 
considerable profit is made to this day by such as make it their 
business to kill them. The wild bulls are of a vast bigness of 
body, and yet they hurt not any one except they be exasper- 
ated. Their hides are from eleven to thirteen feet long. 

The diversity of birds of this island is so great, that I should 
be troublesome if I should attempt to muster up their species ; 
so that I shall content myself to mention some few of the chief. 
Here is a certain species of pullets in the woods which the 
Spaniards call pintadas, which the inhabitants find to be as 
good as those bred in houses. Every body knows that the 
parrots we have in Europe are brought from these parts, whence 
may be inferred, that seeing such a number of these talkative 
birds are preserved among us, notwithstanding the diversity of 



40 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

climates, much greater multitudes are to be found where tho 
air and temperament is natural to them. The parrots make 
their nests in holes of palmetto trees, which holes are before 
made by other birds; for they are not capable of excavating 
any wood, though never so soft, having their own bills too 
crooked and blunt; hence provident Nature hath supplied them 
with the labor of other birds, called carpenters. These are no 
bigger than sparrows, yet have such hard and piercing bills, 
that no iron instrument can be made fitter to excavate any tree, 
though never so solid and hard ; and these holes the parrots 
getting possession of, build in them their nests. There are 
pigeons of all sorts, which are very useful to the inhabitants. 
Those of this island observe the same seasons we mentioned 
before, speaking of Tortuga. Betwixt the pigeons of both 
islands is little or no difference, only that these of Hispaniola 
are something fatter and bigger. Another sort of small birds 
here are called cabreros, or goat-keepers ; these are very like 
others called heronsetas, and chiefly feed upon crabs of the 
sea. In these birds are found seven distinct bladders of gall, 
and their flesh is as bitter as aloes. Crows or ravens, more 
troublesome than useful, do here make a hideous noise through 
the whole island. Their ordinary food is the flesh of wild 
dogs, or the carcasses of those beasts the Buccaneers kill and 
throw away. These clamorous birds no sooner hear the report 
of a fowling-piece or musket, but they gather from all sides in 
flocks, and fill the air and woods with their unpleasant notes; 
they are nothing different from those of Europe. 

It is now time to speak of the French who inhabit a great 
part of this island. We have already told how they came first 
into these parts ; we shall now only describe their manner of 
living, customs, and ordinary employments. The callings or 
professions they follow are generally but three, either to hunt 
or plant, or else to rove the seas as pirates. It is a constant 
custom among them all to seek out a comrade or companion, 
whom we may call partner in their fortunes, with whom they 
join the whole stock of what they possess towards a common 
gain. This is done by articles agreed to and reciprocally signed. 
Some constitute their surviving companion absolute heir to what 
is left by the death of the first. Others, if they be married, 
leave their estates to their wives and children ; others, to other 
relations. This done, every one applies himself to his calling, 
which is always one of the three afore mentioned. 

The hunters are again subdivided into two sorts; for some 
of these only hunt wild bulls and cows, others only wild boars. 
The first of these are called Buccaneers, and not long ago were 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 41 

about 600 on this island, but now they are reckoned about 300. 
The cause has been the great decrease of wild cattle, which 
has been such, that, far from getting, they now are but poor in 
their trade. When tlje Buccaneers go into the woods to hunt 
for wild bulls and cows, they commonly remain there a twelve- 
month or two years without returning home. After the hunt 
is over, and the spoil divided, they commonly sail to Tortuga, 
to provide themselves with guns, powder, and shot, and other 
necessaries for another expedition ; the rest of their gains they 
spend prodigally, giving themselves to all manner of vices and 
debauchery, particularly to drunkenness, which they practise 
mostly with brandy; this they drink as liberally as the Span- 
iards do water. Sometimes they buy together a pipe of wine ; 
this they stave at one end, and never cease drinking till it is 
out. Thus sottishly they live till they have no money left, and 
as freely gratify their lusts, for which they find more women 
than they can use ; for all the tavern-keepers and strumpets 
wait for these lewd Buccaneers, just as they do at Amsterdam 
for the arrival of the East India fleet. The said Buccaneers 
are very cruel and tyrannical to their servants, so that com- 
monly they had rather be galley-slaves, .or saw Brazil wood in 
the rasp-houses of Holland, than serve such barbarous masters. 

The second sort hunt nothing but wild boars; the flesh of 
these they salt, and sell it so to the planters. These hunters have 
the same vicious customs, and are as much addicted to debauch- 
ery as the former ; but their manner of hunting is different from 
that in Europe ; for these Buccaneers have certain places de- 
signed for hunting, where they live for three or four months, 
and sometimes a whole year. Such places are called Deza 
Boulan ; and in these, with only the company of five or six 
friends, they continue all the said time in mutual friendship. 
The first Buccaneers many times agree with planters to furnish 
them with meat all the year at a certain price ; the payment 
hereof is often made with two or three hundred weight of to- 
bacco in the leaf; but the planters commonly into the bargain 
furnish them with a servant, whom they send to help. To the 
servant they afford sufficient necessaries for the purpose, espe- 
cially of po derand shot to hunt withal. 

The planters began to cultivate and plant the Isle of Tortu- 
ga A. D. 1598. The first plantation was of tobacco, which 
grew to admiration, being likewise very good ; but by reason 
of the smallness of the island they could plant but littie, there 
being many pieces of land there that were not fit to produce it. 
They attempted likewise to make sugar, but by reason of the 
great expenses they could not bring it to any effect ; so that the 
4# 



42 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

greatest part of the inhabitants, as we said before, betook them- 
selves to hunting, and the remaining part to piracy. At last 
the hunters finding themselves unable to subsist by that pro- 
fession, began to seek out lands fit for culture, and in these they 
also planted tobacco. The first land they chose was Cat de 
Sac, towards the south part of the island. This ground they 
divided into several quarters, which were called the great Amea, 
Niep, Rochelois, the Little Grave, the Great Grave, and the 
Augame, Here they increased so, that now there are above 
2000 planters. At first they endured much hardship, because 
while they were busied about their husbandry, they could not 
go out of the island for provisions. This hardship was in- 
creased by the necessity of grubbing, cutting down, burning 
and digging, to extirpate the innumerable roots of shrubs and 
trees ; for when the French possessed themselves thereof, it 
was overgrown with woods very thick, and these only inhabited 
by wild boars. The method they took was to divide them- 
selves into small companies of two or three persons together, 
and these companies to separate far enough from each other, 
provided with a few hatchets and some coarse provision. Thus 
they used to go into the woods, and there to build huts only 
of a few rafters and boughs of trees. • They first rooted up the 
shrubs and little trees, then cut down the great ones ; these they 
heaped up, and then set on fire ; but they were constrained to 
grub and dig up the roots as well as they could. The first 
seed they sowed was beans; these in those countries ripen and, 
dry always in six weeks. 

The second fruit necessary to human life, which here ihey 
tried, was potatoes ; these come not to perfection in less than 
four or five months. On these they most commonly make 
their breakfasts ; they dress them only by boiling them in a 
kettle with fair water, then they cover them with cloth for half 
an hour, whereby they become as soft as boiled chestnuts. Of 
the said potatoes also they make a drink tailed maiz ; they cut 
them into small slices, and cover them with hot water; when 
they are well imbibed, they press them through a coarse cloth, 
and the liquor that comes, though something thick, they keep 
in vessels made for that purpose ; here, after setting two or 
three days, it works, and having thrown otf its lees, is fit for 
drink. They use it with great delight ; and though the taste 
is somewhat sour, yet it is very pleasant, substantial, and whole- 
some. The invention of this is owing to the Indians, as well 
as of many other things, which those barbarians found out for 
the preservation and pleasure of life. 

The third fruit the newly cultivated land afforded was man- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 43 

dioca, which the Indians call cazave ; this root comes not to 
perfection till after eight or nine months, or perhaps a year; 
being thoroughly ripe, it may be left in the ground for eleven 
or twelve months without fear of corruption; but this time 
past, they must be used one way or other, otherwise they rot. 
Of these roots is made a sort of granulous flour or meal, dry 
and white, which supplies the want of common bread of wheat, 
whereof the fields are altogether barren. For this purpose they 
have certain graters, made either of copper or tin. wherewith 
they grate these roots, just as they do mirio in Holland. By 
the by, let me tell you, mirio is a root of a very biting taste, 
like strong mustard, wherewith they make sauces for some sorts 
of fish. When they have grated as much cazave roots as will 
serve the turn, they put the gratings into bags or sacks of coarse 
linen, and press out all the moisture ; then they sieve the grat- 
ings, leaving them very like saw-dust. The meal, thus 
prepared, they lay on planches of iron made very hot, on which 
it is converted into very thin cakes ; these are placed in the 
sun, on the tops of houses, to be thoroughly dried, and, lest 
they should lose any part of their meal, what did not pass the 
sieve, is made up in rolls, five or six inches thick; these are 
placed one upon another, and left so till they begin to corrupt. 
Of this they make a liquor called veycou, which they find 
very excellent, and certainly is not inferior to our English 
beer. 

Bananas are another fruit, of which is made excellent liquor, 
which, in strength and pleasantness of taste, may be compared 
to the best wines of Spain; but this liquor easily causes drunk- 
enness, and frequently inflames the throat, and produces dan- 
gerous diseases in that part. Guineas agudos is also another 
fruit whereof they make drink, but not so strong as the prece- 
dent. Howbeit, one and the other are frequently mixed with 
water to quench thirst. 

After they had cultivated these plantations with all sorts of 
roots and fruits necessary for human life, they began to plant 
tobacco for trade,, the manner whereof is thus: they make 
beds of earth twelve feet square ; these they cover with palmite 
leaves, that the rays of the sun may not reach the earth ; they 
water them when it doth not rain, as we do our gardens in 
Europe ; being grown about the bigness of young lettuce, they 
transplant it into straight lines in spacious fields, setting every 
plant three feet distant from each other. The fittest season of 
the year for these things is from January till the end of March, 
these being the months wherein most rains fall. Tobacco must 
be weeded very carefully, seeing the least root of any other 



44 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

herb coming near it hinders its growth. When it is grown to 
the height of about one foot and a half, they cut off the tops, 
to hinder the stalks and leaves from shooting up too high, that 
the whole plant may, receive greater strength from the earth. 
When it comes to full perfection, they prepare certain apart- 
ments of fifty or sixty feet long, and thirty or forty broad; 
these they fill with poles and rafters, and on them lay the green 
tobacco to dry. When it is thoroughly dried, they strip the 
leaf from the stalks, and cause it to be rolled up by certain 
people, who are employed in this* work and no other; to these 
they afford for their labor the tenth part of what they make up. 
This property is peculiar to tobacco, which I shall not omit, — 
that if, while it is in the ground, the leaf be pulled off from 
the stalk, it sprouts again no less than four times a year. Here 
I would also give an account of the manner of making sugar, 
indigo, and gimbes ; but seeing these things are not planted in 
those parts, I pass them over. 

The French planters of Hispaniola have always been subject 
to the governors of Tortuga, but not without much reluctancy 
and grudging. In 1644, the West India Company of France 
laid the foundations of a colony in Tortuga, under which the 
planters of Hispaniola were comprehended as subjects. This 
decree disgusted the said planters, they taking it very ill to be 
reputed subjects to a private company of men who had no au- 
thority to make them so, especially being in a country which 
belonged not to the king of France. Hereupon they resolved 
to work no longer for the said company; and this resolution 
was sufficient to compel the company to a total dissolution of 
the colony. But at last the governor of Tortuga, who was 
pretty well stocked with planters, conceiving he could more 
easily force them than the West India Company, found an in- 
vention to draw them to his obedience : he promised them he 
would put off their merchandise, and cause such returns to be 
made from France as they should like ; withal, he dealt with 
the merchants underhand, that ail ships should come consigned 
to him, and no persons should correspond with those planters 
of Hispaniola, thinking thereby to avoid many inconveniences. 
and compel them through want of all things to obey. Thus 
he not only obtained the obedience he designed, but some 
merchants, who had promised to deal with them and visit them 
no longer, did it. 

Notwithstanding what hath been said, A. D. 1669 two ships 
from Holland arrived at Hispaniola with all sorts of merchan- 
dise : with these, presently, the planters resolved to deal, and 
with the Dutch nation for the future, thinking hereby to with- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 45 

draw their obedience from the governor of Tortugaj and by 
frustrating his designs, revenge themselves of what they had 
endured under his government. Not long after the arrival of 
the Hollanders, the governor of Tortuga came to visit the 
plantation of Hispaniola, in a vessel very well armed ; but the 
planters not only forbid him to come ashore, but with their 
guns forced him to retire faster than he came. Thus the Hol- 
landers began a trade with these people ; but such relations and 
friends as the governor had in Hispaniola used all the endeav- 
ors they were capable of, to impede the commerce. This being 
understood by the planters, they sent them word, that in case 
they laid not aside their artifices for the hinderance of the com- 
merce which was begun with the Hollanders, they should every 
one assuredly be torn in pieces. Moreover, to oblige further 
the Hollanders, and contemn the governor and his party, they 
gave greater ladings unto the two ships than they could desire, 
with many gifts and presents unto the officers and mariners, 
whereby they sent them very well contented to their own 
country. The Hollanders came again very punctually, accord- 
ing to their promise, and found the planters under a greater 
indignation than before against the governor, either because of 
the great satisfaction they had already conceived of this com- 
merce with the Dutch, or that by their means they hoped to 
subsist by themselves, without any further dependence from the 
French nation. However it was, suddenly after they set up 
another resolution more strange than the precedent; the tenor 
whereof was, that they would go unto the Island of Tortuga, 
and cut the governor in pieces. Hereupon they gathered 
together as many canoes as they could, and set sail from His- 
paniola, with design not only to kill the governor, but also to 
possess themselves of the whole Island. This they thought 
they could not but easily perform, by reason of all necessary 
assistance, which they believed would at any time be sent them 
from Holland ; by which means, they were ready determined, 
in their minds, to e'rect themselves- into a new commonwea'th, 
independent of the crown of France. But no sooner had they 
begun this great revolution of their little state, when they re- 
ceived news of a war declared between the two nations in 
Europe. This wrought such a consternation in their minds, 
as caused them to give over that enterprise, and retire, without 
attempting any -thing. 

In the mean time, the governor of Tortuga sent into France 
for aid towards his own security, and the reduction of those 
people unto their former obedience. This. was granted him, 
and two men-of-war were sent unto Tortuga, with orders to bq 



46 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

at his command. Having received such a considerable support, 
he sent them, very well equipped, to the Island of Hispauiola, 
Being arrived at that place, they landed part of the forces, with 
a design to force the people to the obedience of those whom 
they hated in their hearts. But the planters, seeing the arrival 
of these two frigates, and not being ignorant of their design, 
fled into the woods, abandoning their houses and many of their 
goods, which they left behind. These were immediately 
rifled and burned by the French, without compassion, not 
sparing the least cottage. Afterwards the governor began to 
relent, and let them know that, if they would return to his 
obedience, he would hearken to an accommodation. Here- 
upon the planters, finding they could expect no relief, surren- 
dered to the governor, upon articles made and signed on both 
sides. But these were not strictly observed, for he commanded 
two of the chief of them to be hanged. The residue were 
pardoned, and withal he gave them free leave to trade with 
any nation for whatsoever they found necessary. With this 
liberty, they began to recultivate their plantations, which 
yielded a great quantity of very good tobacco, they selling 
yearly to the sum of twenty or thirty thousand rolls. 

The planters here have but very iew slaves, for want of 
which, themselves and their servants are constrained to do all 
the drudgery. These servants commonly bind themselves to 
their masters for three years ; but their masters, having no con- 
sciences, often traffic with their bodies, as with horses at a fair, 
selling them to other masters as they sell negroes. Yea, to 
advance this trade, some persons go purposely into France (and 
likewise to England and other countries) to pick up young 
men or boys, whom they inveigle and transport; and having 
once got them into these islands, they work them like horses, 
the toil imposed on them being much harder than what they 
enjoin the negroes, their slaves ; for these they endeavor to 
preserve, being their perpetual bondmen. But for their white 
servants, they care not whether they live or die, seeing they 
are to serve them no longer than three years. These miserable 
kidnapped people are frequently subject to a disease, which in 
these parts is called coma, being a total privation of their 
senses. This distemper is judged to proceed from their hard 
usage, and the change of their native climate ; and there being 
often among these some of good quality, tender education, and 
soft constitutions, they are more easily seized with this disease, 
and others of those countries, than those of harder bodies and 
laborious lives. Beside the hard usage in their diet, apparel, 
and rest, many times they beat them so cruelly that they fall 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 47 

down dead under the hands of their cruel masters. This I 
have often seen, with great grief. Of the many instances, I 
shall only give you the following history, it being very remark- 
able in its circumstances. 

A certain planter of these countries exercised such cruelty 
towards one of his servants, as caused him to run away. 
Having absconded for some days, in the woods, at last he was 
taken, and brought back to the wicked Pharaoh. No sooner 
had he got him, but he commanded him to be tied to a tree ; 
here he gave him so many lashes on his naked back, as made 
his body run with an entire stream of blood ; then, to make 
the smart of his wounds the greater, he anointed him with 
lemon-juice, mixed with salt and pepper. In this miserable 
posture he left him tied to the tree for twenty-four hours, 
which being past, he began his punishment again, lashing him, 
as before, so cruelly, that the miserable wretch gave up the 
ghost, with these dying words : " I beseech the Almighty God, 
Creator of heaven and earth, that he permit the wicked spirit 
to make thee feel as many torments before thy death as thou 
hast caused me to feel before mine." A strange thing, and 
worthy of astonishment and admiration ! Scarce three or four 
days were past, after this horrible fact, when the Almighty 
Judge, who had heard the cries of that tormented wretch, suf- 
fered the evil one suddenly to possess this barbarous and inhu- 
man homicide, so that those cruel hands which, had punished 
to death his innocent servant were the tormenters of his own 
body ; for he beat himself and tore his flesh after a miserable 
manner, till he lost the very shape of a man, not ceasing to 
howl and cry, without any rest by day or night. Thus he 
continued raving mad, till he died. Many other examples of 
this kind I could rehearse; but these not belonging to oui 
present discourse, I omit them. 

The planters of the Carribee Islands are rather worse, and 
more cruel to their servants, than the former. In the Isle of 
St. Christopher dwells one named Bettesa, well known to the 
Dutch merchants, who has killed above a hundred of his ser- 
vants with blows and stripes. The English do the same with 
their servants, and the mildest cruelty they exercise towards 
them is, that when they have served six years of their time, 
(they being bound among the English for seven,) they use 
them so cruelly as to force them to beg of their masters to sell 
them to others, though it be to begin another servitude of seven 
years, or at least three or- four. And I have known many wha 
have thus served fifteen or twenty years, before they could ob- 
tain their freedom. Another law, very rigorous in that nation, 



48 THE BUCCANEERS OF .AMERICA. 

is, if any man owes another above twenty-five English shil- 
lings, if he cannot pay it he is liable to be sold for six or eight 
months. Not to trouble the reader any longer with relations 
of this kind, I shall now describe the famous actions and ex- 
ploits of the greatest pirates of my time, durirtg my residence 
in those parts ; these I shall relate without the least" passion or 
partiality, and assure my reader that I shall give him no stories 
upon trust or hearsay, but only those enterprises to which I' 
was myself an eye-witness. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Of the original of the most famous Pirates of the Coasts of America. — A 
famous Exploit of Pierre Le Grand. 

I have told you, in the preceding chapters, how I was com- 
pelled tQ adventure my life among the pirates of America, 
which sort of men I name so, because they are not authorized 
by any sovereign prince ; for the kings of Spain, having on 
several occasions sent their ambassadors to the kings of Eng- 
land and France, to complain of the molestations and troubles 
those pirates often caused on the coasts of America, even in 
the calm of peace ; it hath always been answered, that such 
men did not commit those acts of hostility and piracy as sub- 
jects to their majesties ; and, therefore, his Catholic majesty 
might proceed against them as he should think fit. The king 
of France added, that he had no fortress* nor castle upon His- 
paniola, neither did he receive a farthing of tribute from thence. 
And the king of England rejoined, that he had never given 
any commissions to those of Jamaica, to commit hostilities 
against the subjects of his Catholic majesty. Nor did he only 
give this bare answer, but out of his royal desire to pleasure 
the court of Spain, recalled the governor of Jamaica, placing 
another in his room ; all which could not prevent these pirates 
from acting as heretofore. But before I relate their bold ac- 
tions, I shall say something of their rise and exercises, as also 
of the chiefest of them, and their manner of arming them- 
selves before they put to sea. 

The first pirate that was known upon Tortuga was Pierre 
Le Grand, or Peter the Great. He was born at Diep, in Nor- 
mandy. That action which rendered him famous, was his 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 49 

taking the vice-admiral of the Spanish flota, near the Cape of 
Tiburon. on the west side of Hispaniola. This he performed 
with only one boat and twenty-eight men. Now, till that time 
the Spaniards had passed and repassed, with all security 
through the Channel of Bahama ; so that Pierre Le Grand, sut 
ting out to sea by the Caycos, he took this great ship with ali 
the ease imaginable. The Spaniards they found aboard they 
set ashore, and sent the vessel to France. The manner how 
this undaunted spirit attempted and took this large ship, I shall 
give you out of the journal of the author, in his own words : 
" The boat," says he, " wherein Pierre Le Grand was with his 
companions, had been at sea a long time without finding any 
prize worth his taking ; and their provisions beginning to fail, 
they were in danger of starving. Being almost reduced to 
despair, they spied a great ship of the Spanish flota, separated 
from the rest. This vessel they resolved to take, or die in the 
attempt. Hereupon they sailed towards her, to view her 
strength ; and though they judged the vessel to be superior to 
theirs, yet their covetousness, and the extremity they were re- 
duced to, made them venture. Being come so near that they 
could not possibly escape, they made an oath to their captain, 
Pierre Le Grand, to stand by him to the last. 'Tis true, the 
pirates did believe they should find the ship unprovided to 
fight, and thereby the sooner master her. It was in the dusk 
of the evening they began to attack; but before they engaged, 
they ordered the surgeon of the boat, to bore a hole in the sides 
of it, that, their own vessel sinking under them, they might be 
compelled to attack more vigorously, and endeavor more hastily 
to board the ship. This was done accordingly, and without 
any other arms than a pistol in one hand and a sword in the 
other, they immediately climbed up the sides of the ship, and 
ran altogether into the great cabin, where they found the cap- 
tain, with several of his companions, playing at cards. Here 
they set a pistol to his breast, commanding him to deliver up 
the ship. The Spaniards, surprised to see the pirates aboard 
their ship, cried, ' Jesus bless us! are these devils, or what are 
they? ' Meanwhile, some of them took possession of the gun- 
room, and seized the arms, killing as many as made any oppo- 
sition ; whereupon the Spaniards presently surrendered. That 
very day, the captain of the ship had been told, by some 'of the 
seamen, that the boat which was in view, cruising, was a boat 
of pirates; whom the captain slightly answered, 'What then, 
must I be afraid of such a pitiful a thing as that is? No, 
though she were a ship as big and as strong as mine is.' As 
soon as Pierre Le Grand had taken this rich prize, he detained 
5 



50 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

in his service as many of the common .seamen as he had 
need of, setting the rest ashore, and then set sail for France, 
where he continued, without ever returning to America again. " 

The planters and hunters of Tortuga had no sooner heard of 
the rich prize those pirates had taken, but they resolved to fol- 
low their example. Hereupon many of them left their em- 
ployments, and endeavored to get some small boats, wherein to 
exercise piracy; but not being able to purchase or build them 
at Tortuga, they resolved to set forth in their canoes, and seek 
them elsewhere. With these they cruised at first upon Cape 
de Alvarez, where the Spaniards used to trade from one city to 
another in small vessels, in which they carry hides, tobacco, 
and other commodities, to the Havana, and to which the Span- 
iards from Europe do frequently resort. 

Here it was that those pirates at first took a great many 
boats, laden with the aforesaid commodities. These they used 
to carry to Tortuga, and sell the whole purchase to the ships 
that waited for their return, or accidentally happened to be 
there. With the gains of these prizes they provided them- 
selves 'with necessaries wherewith to undertake other voyages, 
some of which were made to Campeachy, and others towards 
New Spain, in both which the Spaniards then drove a great 
trade. Upon those coasts they found great numbers of trading 
vessels, and often ships of great burden. Two of the biggest 
of these vessels, and two great ships which the Spaniards had 
laden with plate in the port of Campeachy, to go to the Carac- 
cas, they took in less than a month's time, and carried to Tor- 
tuga, where the people of the whole island, encouraged by 
their success, especially seeing in two years the riches of the 
country so much increased, they augmented the number of pi- 
rates so fast, that in a little time there were, in that small island 
and port, above twenty ships of this sort of people. Hereupon 
the Spaniards, not able to* bear their robberies any longer, 
equipped two large men-of-war, both for the defence of thuil 
own coasts and to cruise upon the enemies. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 51 

CHAPTER VII. 

How the Pirates arm their Vessels, and regulate their Voyages. 

Before the pirates go to sea, they give notice to all con- 
cerned of the day on which they are to embark, obliging each 
man to bring so many pounds of powder and ball as they think 
necessary. Being all come aboard, they consider where to get 
provisions, especially flesh, seeing they scarce eat any thing 
else, and of this the most common sort is pork. The next 
food is tortoises, which they salt a little. Sometimes they rob 
such or such hog-yards, where the Spaniards often- have a 
thousand heads of swine together. They come to these places 
in the night, and having beset the keeper's lodge, they force 
him to rise, and give them as many heads as they desire, 
threatening to kill him if he refuses or makes any noise. 
And these menaces are oftentimes executed on the miserable 
swine-keepers, or any other person that endeavors to hinder 
their robberies. 

Having got flesh sufficient for their voyage, they return to 
their ship. Here they allow, twice a day, every one as much 
as he can eat, without weight or measure ; nor does the stew- 
ard of the vessel give any more flesh, or any thing else, to the 
captain, than to the meanest mariner. The ship being well 
victualled, they deliberate whither they shall go to seek their 
desperate fortunes, and likewise agree upon certain articles, 
which are put in writing, which every one is bound to observe ; 
and all of them, or the chiefest part, do set their hands to it. 
Here they set down distinctly what sums of money each par- 
ticular person ought to have for that voyage, the fund of all the 
payments being what is gotten by the whole expedition ; for 
otherwise it is the same law among these people as with other 
pirates: no prey, no pay. First, therefore, they mention how 
much the captain is to have for his ship ; next, the salary of 
the carpenter, or shipwright, who careened, mended, and rigged 
the vessel. This commonly amounts to one hundred or one 
hundred and fifty pieces of eight, according to the agreement. 
Afterwards, for provisions and victualling, they draw out of the 
same common stock about two hundred pieces of eight ; also a 
salary for the surgeon, and his chest of medicaments, which 
usually is rated at two hundred or two hundred and fifty pieces 
of eight. Lastly, they agree what rate each one ought to have 
that is either wounded or maimed in his body, suffering the 



52 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

loss of any limb ; as, for the loss of a right, arm, six hundred 
pieces of eight, or six slaves ; for the left arm, five hundred 
pieces of eight, or five slaves ; for a right leg, five hundred 
pieces of eight, or five slaves; for the left leg, four hundred 
pieces of eight, or four slaves ; for an eye, one hundred pieces 
of eight, or one slave ; for a finger, the same as for an eye ; 
all which sums are taken out of the common stock of what is 
gotten by their piracy, and a very exact and equal dividend is 
made of the remainder. They have also regard to qualities 
and places. Thus the captain, or chief, is allotted five or six 
portions to what the ordinary seamen have ; the master's mate 
only two, and other officers proportionably to their employ ; 
after which, they draw equal parts, from the highest to the 
lowest mariner, the boys not being omitted, who draw half a 
share ; because, when they take a better vessel than their own, 
it is the boys' duty to fire their former vessel, and then retire 
to the prize. 

They observe among themselves very good orders ; for in 
the prizes which they take, it is severely prohibited, to every 
one, to take any thing to themselves. Hence all they take is 
equally divided, as hath been said before. Yea, they take a 
solemn oath to each other, not to conceal the least thing they 
find among the prizes ; and if any one is found false to the 
said oath, he is immediately turned out of the society. They 
are very civil and charitable to each other, so .that if any one 
wants what another has, with great willingness they give it 
one to another. As soon as these pirates have taken a prize, 
they immediately set ashore the prisoners, detaining only some 
few, for their own help and service; whom, also, they release 
after two or three years. They refresh themselves at one 
island or another, but especially at those on the south of Cuba. 
Here they careen their vessels, while some hunt, and others 
cruise in canoes for prize. Many times they take the poor tor- 
toise fishermen, and make them work during their pleasure. 

In the several parts of America are found four distinct spe- 
cies of tortoises. The first are so great, that they weigh two 
or three thousand pounds. The scales are so soft, that they 
may be cut with a knife. But these are not good to eat. The 
second sort is of an indifferent bigness, and of a green color ; 
their scales are harder than the first, and of a very pleasant 
taste. The third is little different in size from the second, 
only the head something bigger. It is called by the French, 
cavana, and is not good meat. The fourth is named caret, 
being very like those of Europe. This sort keeps commonly 
among the rocks, whence they crawl out for their food, which 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 53 

is generally sea-apples; those other above mentioned feed on 
grass, which grows in the water on the sandy banks; these 
banks or shelves, for their pleasant green, resemble the delight- 
ful meadows of the United Provinces. Their eggs are almost 
like those of the crocodile, but without any shell, being only 
covered with a thin film; they are found in such prodigious 
quantities along the shores, that were they not frequently de- 
stroyed by birds, the sea would abound with tortoises. 

These creatures have certain places where they lay their eggs 
every year; the chief are the three islands called Caymanes, in 
20° 15', lat., being 45 leagues north of Cuba. 

It is worth considering how the tortoises find these islands; 
for the greatest part come from the Gulf of Honduras, 150 
leagues off, and many times the ships having lost their altitude, 
from the darkness of the weather, steer only by the noise the 
tortoises make in swimming, and reach those isles. When the 
season of hatching is past, they retire to Cuba, which affords 
them good food ; but while they are at the Caymanes, they eat 
little or nothing. When they have been a month in the seas 
of Cuba, and are grown fat, the Spaniards fish for them, being 
then to be taken in such abundance, that they furnish their 
cities, towns, and villages with them. The way they take 
them is, by making with a great nail a kind of dart ; this they 
fix at the end of a long pole, with which they kill the tortoises 
whenever they appear above the water. 

The inhabitants of New Spain and Campeachy lade their best 
merchandise in ships of great bulk : the vessels from Campeachy 
sail in the winter to Caraccas, Trinity Isles, and that of Marga- 
rita, and return back again in the summer. The pirates know- 
ing these seasons, (being very diligent in their inquiries,) always 
cruise between the places above mentioned ; but in case they 
light of no considerable booty, they commonly undertake some 
more hazardous enterprises, one remarkable instance of which 
I shall here give you. A certain pirate called Pierre Francois, 
or Peter Francis, waiting a long time at sea with his boat and 
twenty-six men, for the ships that were to return from Mara- 
caibo to Campeachy, and not being able to find any prey, at last 
he resolved to direct his course to Rancheiras, near the River 
de la Plata, in 12° and a half north latitude. Here lies a rich 
bank of pearl, to the fishery whereof they yearly sent from 
Carthagena twelve vessels with a man-of-war for their defence. 
Every vessel has at least two negroes in it, who are very dex- 
terous in diving to the depth of six fathoms, where they find 
good store of pearls. On this fleet, called the pearl-fleet, Pierre 
Francois resolved to venture, rather than to go home empty : 
5* 



54 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




Bartholomew l'ortujrues. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 55 

they then rode at anchor at the mouth of the River de la Harha, 
the man-of-war scarce half a league distant from the small ships, 
and the wind very calm. Having spied them in this posture, 
he presently pulled down his sails and rowed along the coast, 
feigning to be a Spanish vessel come from Maracaibo ; but no 
sooner was he come to the pearl-bank, when suddenly he 
assaulted the vice-admiral of eight guns and sixty men, com- 
manding them to surrender. The Spaniards made a good 
defence for some time, but at last were forced to submit. 
Having thus taken the vice-admiral, he resolved to attempt the 
man-of-war, with which addition he hoped to master the rest 
of the fleet : to this end he presently sunk his own boat, putting 
forth the Spanish colors, and weighed anchor with a little wind 
which then began to stir, having with threats and promises 
compelled most of the Spaniards to assist him. But so soon as 
the man-of-war perceived one of his fleet to sail, he did so too, 
fearing lest the mariners designed to run away with the riches 
they had on board. The pirate on this immediately gave over 
the enterprise, thinking themselves unable to encounter force 
to force. Hereupon they endeavored to get out of the river 
and gain the open seas, by making as much sail as they could; 
which the man-of-war perceiving, he presently gave them chase ; 
but the pirates having laid on too much sail, and a gust of wind 
suddenly rising, their mainmast was brought by the board, 
which disabled them from escaping. - 

This unhappy event much encouraged those in the man-of- 
war, they gaining upon the pirates every moment, and at last 
overtook .them ; but they finding they had twenty-two sound 
men, the rest being either killed or wounded, resolved to defend 
themselves as long as possible ; this they performed very cour- 
ageously for some time, till they were forced by the man-of- 
war, on condition that they should not be used as slaves to 
carry stones, or be employed in other labors for three or four 
years, as they served their negroes, but that they should be set 
safe ashore on free land. On these articles they yielded with 
all they had taken, which was worth, in pearls alone, above one 
hundred thousand pieces of eight, besides the vessel, provisions, 
goods, &c. All which would have made this a greater prize 
than he could desire, which he had certainly carried off, if his 
mainmast had not been lost; as we said before. 

Another bold attempt like this, nor less remarkable, I shall 
also give yon. A certain pirate of Portugal, thence called Bar- 
tholomew Portugues, was cruising in a boat of thirty men and 
four small guns from Jamaica, upon the Cape de Corriente, in 
Cuba, where he met a great ship from Maracaibo and Cartha- 



56 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

gena, bound for the Havana, well provided with twenty great 
guns and seventy men, passengers and mariners ; this ship he 
presently assaulted, which they on board as resolutely defended. 
The pirate escaping the first encounter, resolved to attack her 
more vigorously than before, seeing he had yet suffered no 
great damage: this he performed with so much resolution, that 
at last, after a long and dangerous fight, he became master of it. 
The Portuguese lost only ten men, and had four wounded ; so 
that he had still remaining twenty fighting men, whereas the 
Spaniards had double the number. Having possessed them- 
selves of the ship, the wind being contrary to return to Jamai- 
ca, they resolved to steer to Cape St. Anthony, (which lies west 
of Cuba,) there to repair and take in fresh water, of which they 
were then in great want. 

Being very near the cape above said, they unexpectedly met 
with three great ships coming from New Spain, and bound for 
the Havana ; by these, not being able to escape, they were 
easily retaken, both ship and pirates, and all made prisoners, and 
stripped of all the riches they had taken but just before. The 
cargo consisted in one hundred and twenty thousand weight 
of cocoa nuts, the chief ingredient of chocolate, and seventy 
thousand pieces of eight. Two days after this misfortune, 
there arose a great storm, which separated the ships from one 
another. The great vessel, where the pirates were, arrived at 
Cam peachy, where many considerable merchants came and 
saluted the captain ; these presently knew the Portuguese 
pirate, being infamous for the many insolencies, robberies, and 
murders he had committed on their coasts, which they kept 
fresh in their memory. 

The next day after their arrival, the magistrates of the city 
sent to demand the prisoners from on board the ship, in order 
to punish them according to their deserts ; but fearing the cap- 
tain of the pirates should make his escape, (as he had formerly 
done, being their prisoner once before,) they judged it safer to 
leave him guarded on shipboard for the present, while they 
erected a gibbet to hang him on the next day, without any 
other process than to lead him from the ship to his punishment ; 
the rumor of which was presently brought to Bartholomew 
Portugues, whereby he sought all possible means to escape that 
night. With this design he took two earthen jars, wherein the 
Spaniards carry wine from Spain to the West Indies, and 
stopped them very well, intending to use them for swimming, 
as those unskilled in that art do corks or empty bladders. Hav- 
ing made this necessary preparation, he waited when all should 
be asleep ; but not being able to escape his sentinel's vigilance, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 57 

he stabbed him with a knife he had secretly purchased, and 
then threw himself into the sea with the earthern jars before 
mentioned ; by the help of which, though he never learned 
to swim, he reached the shore, and immediately took to the 
woods, where he hid himself for three days, not daring to ap- 
pear, eating no other food than wild herbs. 

Those of the city next day made diligent search for him in 
the woods, where they concluded him to be. This strict in- 
quiry Portugues saw from the hollow of a tree, wherein he lay 
hid ; and upon their return he made the best of his way to Del 
Golpho Triste, forty leagues from Campeachy, where he arrived 
within a fortnight after his escape ; during which time, as also 
afterwards, he endured extreme hunger and thirst, having no 
other provision with him than a small calabaca with a little 
water, besides the fears of falling again into the hands of the 
Spaniards. He ate nothing but a few shell fish, which he 
found among the rocks near the sea-shore ; and being obliged 
to pass some rivers, not knowing well how to swim, he found 
at last an old board, which the waves had driven ashore, where- 
in were a few great nails ; these he took, and with no small 
labor whetted on a stone, till he had made them like knives, 
though not so well ; with these, and nothing else, he cut down 
some branches of trees, which with twigs and osiers he joined 
together, and made as well as he could a boat to waft him over 
the rivers. Thus arriving at the Cape of Golpho Triste, as was 
said, he found a vessel of pirates, comrades of his own, lately 
come from Jamaica. 

To these he related all his adversities and misfortunes, and 
withal desired they would fit him with a boat and twenty men, 
with which company alone he promised to return to Campeachy, 
and assault the ship that was in the river, by which he had 
been taken fourteen days before. They presently granted his- 
request, and equipped him a boat accordingly.. With this small 
company he set out to execute his design, which he bravely 
performed eight days after he left Golpho Triste ; for being 
arrived at Campeachy, with an undaunted courage, and without 
any noise, he assaulted the said ship. Those on board thought 
it was a boat from land that came to bring contraband goods, 
and so were in no posture o'f defence ; which opportunity the 
pirates laying hold of, assaulted them so resolutely, that in a 
little time they compelled the Spaniards to surrender. 

Being masters of the ship, they immediately weighed anchoi 
and set sail from the port, lest they should be pursued by othei 
vessels. This they did with the utmost joy, seeing themselves 
possessors, of so brave a ship; especially Portugues, who by a 



58 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




Roche Brasiliano. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 59 

second turn of fortune was become rich and powerful again, 
who was so lately in that same vessel a prisoner, condemned 
to be hanged: with this purchase he designed greater things, 
which he might have done, since there remained in the vessel 
so great a quantity of rich merchandise, though the plate had 
been sent to the city. But while he was making his voyage 
to Jamaica, near the Isle of Pinos, on the south of Cuba, a 
terrible storm arose, which drove against the Jardines Rocks, 
where she was lost ; but Portugues with his companions escaped 
in a canoe, in which he arrived at Jamaica, where it was not 
long ere he went on new adventures, but was never fortunate 
after. 

Nor less considerable are the actions of another pirate who 
now lives at Jamaica, who on several occasions has performed 
very surprising things. He was born at Groninghen, in the 
United Provinces. His own name not being known, his com- 
panions gave him that of Roche Brasiliano, by reason of his 
long residence in Brazil ; hence he was forced to fly, when the 
Portuguese retook those countries from the Dutch, several na- 
tions then inhabiting at Brazil (as English, French, Dutch, 
and others) being constrained to seek new fortunes. 

This person fled to Jamaica, where being at a stand how to 
get his living, he entered himself into the society of pirates, 
where he served as a private mariner for some time, and behaved 
himself so well, that he was beloved and respected by all. 
One day some of the mariners quarrelled with their captain, to 
that degree, that they left the boat. Brasiliano following them, 
was chose their leader, who having fitted out a small vessel, 
they made him captain. 

Within a few days after, he took a great ship coming from 
New Spain, which had a great quantity of plate on board, and 
carried it to Jamaica. This action got him a great reputation 
at home, and though in his private affairs he governed himself 
very well, he would oftentimes appear brutal and foolish when 
in drink, running up and down the streets, beating or wounding 
those he met, no person daring to make any resistance. 

To the Spaniards he was always very barbarous and cruel, 
out of an inveterate hatred against that nation ; of these he 
commanded several to be roasted alive on wooden spits, for not 
showing him hog-yards, where he might steal swine. After 
many of these cruelties, as he was cruising on the coasts of Cam^ 
peachy, a dismal tempest surprised him so violently, that his ship 
was wrecked upon the coasts, the mariners only escaping with 
their muskets, and some few bullets and powder, which were 
the only things they could save. The ship was lost between 



60 THE BUCCANEEKS OF AMERICA. 

Campeachy and the Golpho Triste : here they got ashore in a 
canoe, and marching along the coast with all the speed they 
could, they directed their course towards Golpho Triste, the 
common refuge of the pirates. Being upon his journey, and 
all very hungry and thirsty, as is usual in desert places, they 
were pursued by a troop of one hundred Spaniards. Brasiliano 
perceiving their imminent danger, encouraged his companions, 
telling them they were better soldiers, and ought rather to die 
under their arms, fighting as it became men of courage, than 
surrender to the' Spaniards, who would take away their lives 
with the utmost torments. The pirates were but thirty, yet 
seeing their brave commander oppose the enemy with such 
courage, resolved to do the like ; hereupon they faced the troop 
of Spaniards, and discharged their muskets on them so dexter- 
ously, that they killed one horseman almost with every shot. 
The fight continued for an hour, till at last the Spaniards were 
put to flight : they stripped the dead and took from them what 
was most for their use ; such as were also quite dead, they 
dispatched with the ends of their muskets. 

Having vanquished the enemy, they mounted on horses they 
found in the field, and continued their journey ; Brasiliano 
having lost but two of his companions in this bloody fight, and 
had two wounded. Prosecuting their way, before they came 
to the port they spied a boat at anchor from Campeachy well 
manned, protecting a few canoes that were lading wood ; here- 
upon they sent six of their men to watch them, who next 
morning, by a wile, possessed themselves of the canoes. Hav- 
ing given notice to their companions, they boarded them, and 
also took the little man-of-war, their convoy. Being thus mas- 
ters of this fleet, they wanted only provisions, of which they 
found little aboard those vessels; but this defect was supplied 
by the horses which they killed and salted with salt, which by 
good fortune the woodcutters had brought with them, with 
which they supported themselves till they could get better. 

They took also another ship going from New Spain to -Vlara- 
caibo, laden with divers sorts of merchandise and pieces of eight, 
designed to buy cocoa-nuts for their lading home ; all these they 
carried to Jamaica, where they safely arrived, and, according to 
custom, wasted all in a few days in taverns and stews, giving 
themselves to all manner of debauchery. Such of these pirates 
will spend two or three thousand pieces of eight in a night, not 
leaving themselves a good shirt to wear in the morning. I saw 
one of them give a common strumpet five hundred pieces of 
eight to see her naked. My own master would buy sometimes 
a pipe of wine, and placing it in the street, would force those 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 6] 

that passed by to drink with him, threatening also to pistol 
them if they would not. He would do the like with barrels 
of beer or ale, and very often he would throw these liquors 
about, the streets, and wet people's clothes, without regarding 
whether he spoiled their apparel. 

Among themselves, these pirates are very liberal. If any 
one has lost all, which often happens in their manner of life, 
they freely give him of what they have. In taverns and ale- 
houses, they have great credit ; but at Jamaica they ought 
not to run very deep in debt, seeing 'the inhabitants there 
easily sell one another for debt. This happened to my patron, 
to be sold for a debt of a tavern, wherein he had spent the 
greatest part of his money. This man had, within three 
months before, three thousand pieces of eight in ready cash, all 
which he wasted in that little time, and became as poor as I 
have told you. 

But to return. Brasiliano. after having spent all, was forced 
to go to sea again to seek his fortune. He set forth towards 
the coast of Campeachy, his common rendezvous. Fifteen 
days after his arrival, he put himself into a canoe*, to espy the 
port of that city, and see if he could rob any Spanish vessel ; 
but his fortune was so bad, that both he and all his men were 
taken and carried before the governor, who immediately cast 
them into a dungeon, intending to hang them every one ; and 
doubtless he had done so, but for a stratagem of Brasiliano, 
which saved their lives. He wrote a letter to the governor, in 
the names of other pirates that were abroad at sea, telling him, 
" He should have a care how he used those persons he had in 
custody ; for if he hurt them in the least, they swore they 
would never give quarter to any Spaniard that should fall into 
.their hands." 

These pirates having been often at Campeachy, and other 
places of the West Indies in the Spanish dominions, the gov- 
erno. feared what mischief their companions abroad might do, 
if he should punish them. Hereupon he released them, exact- 
ing only an oath on them, that they would leave their exercise 
of piracy forever ; and withal he sent them, as common mari- 
ners in the galleons, to Spain. They got in this voyage, all 
together, five hundred pieces of eight ; so that they tarried not 
long there, after their arrival. Providing themselves with 
necessaries, they returned to Jamaica, from whence they set 
forth again to sea, committing greater robberies and cruelties 
than before, but especially abusing the poor Spaniards who fell 
into 'their hands with all sorts of cruelty. 

The Spaniards, finding they could gain nothing on these 
6 



62 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

people, or diminish their number, daily resolved to lessen the, 
number of their trading ships. But neither was this of any 
service ; for the pirates, finding few ships at sea, began to 
gather into companies, and to land on their dominions, ruining 
cities, towns, and villages ; pillaging, burning, and carrying 
away as much as they could. 

The first pirate who began these invasions by land was 
Lewis Scot, who sacked the city of Campeachy, which he 
almost ruined, robbing and destroying all he could; and after 
he had put it to an excessive ransom, he left it. After Scot, 
came another, named Mansvelt, who invaded Granada, and 
penetrated even to the South Sea, till at last, for want of pro- 
vision, he was forced to go back. He assaulted the Isle of 
St. Catherine, which he took, with a few prisoners. These 
directed him to Carthagena, a principal city in Nueva Granada. 
But the bold attempts and actions of John Davis, born at Jamaica, 
ought not to be forgotten, being some of the most remarkable ; 
especially his rare prudence and valor showed in the fore-men- 
tioned kingdom of Granada. This pirate, having long cruised in 
the Gulf of Pocatauro, on the ships expected to Carthagena, 
bound for Nicaragua, and not meeting any of them, resolved -at 
last to land in Nicaragua, leaving his ship hid on the coast. 

This design he soon executed ; for, taking eighty men out 
of ninety which he had in all, and the rest he left to keep the 
ship, he divided them equally into three canoes. His intent 
was to rob the churches, and rifle the houses of the chief citi- 
zens of Nicaragua. Thus, in the dark night, they entered the 
river leading to that city, rowing in their canoes. By day they 
hid themselves and boats under the branches of trees, on the 
banks, which grow very thick along the river-sides in- those 
countries, and along the sea-coast. Being arrived at the city 
the third night, the sentinel, who kept the post of the river, 
thought them to be fishermen that had been fishing in the 
lake ; and most of the pirates understanding Spanish, he 
doubted not, as soon as he heard them speak. They had in 
their company an Indian, who had run away from his master, 
who would have enslaved him unjustly. He went first ashore, 
and instantly killed the sentinel ; this done, they entered the 
city, and went directly to three or four houses of the chief cit- 
izens, here they knocked softly. These, believing them to 
be friends, opened the doors, and the pirates, suddenly possess- 
ing themselves of the houses, stole all the money and plate 
they could find. Nor did they spare the churches, and most 
sacred things, all which were pillaged and profaned, without 
any respect or veneration. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 63 

Meanwhile, great cries and lamentations were heard of some 
who had escaped them ; so that the whole city was iri an up- 
roar, and all the citizens rallied in order to a defence, which 
the pirates perceiving, they instantly fled, carrying away their 
booty and some prisoners. These they led away, that if any 
of them should be taken by the Spaniards, they might use 
them for ransom. Thus they got to their ship, and with all 
speed put to sea, forcing the prisoners, before they let them go, 
to procure them as much flesh as was necessary for their voy- 
age to Jamaica. But no sooner had they weighed anchor, 
when they saw a troop of about five hundred Spaniards, all 
well armed, at the sea-side. Against these they let fly several 
guns, wherewith they forced them to quit the sands and retire, 
with no small regret to see these pirates carry away so much 
plate of their churches and houses, though distant at least 
forty leagues from the sea. 

These pirates got, on this occasion, above four thousand 
pieces of eight in money, besides much plate and many jewels, 
in all to the value of fifty thousand pieces of eight, or more. 
With all this, they arrived at Jamaica soon after. But this 
sort of people being never long masters of their money, they 
were soon constrained to seek more by the same means ; and 
Captain John Davis, presently after his return, was chosen ad- 
miral of seven or eight vessels, he being now esteemed an able 
conductor for such enterprises. He began his new command 
by directing his fleet to the north of Cuba, there to wait for 
the fleet from New Spain ; but missing his design, they deter- 
mined for Florida. Being arrived there, they landed their men 
and sacked a small city named St. Augustine of Florida. The 
castle had a garrison of two hundred men, but could not pre- 
vent the pillage of the city, they effecting it without the least 
damage from the soldiers or townsmen. 

Thus we have spoken, in the first part of this book, of the 
constitution of Hispaniola and Tortuga, their properties and 
inhabitants, as also- of the fruits. In the second part, we shall 
describe the actions of the two most famous pirates, who com- 
mitted many horrible crimes and inhumanities upon the 
Spaniards. * 



64 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




Francis Lolonois. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 65 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Of the Origin of Francis Lolonois, and the Beginning of his Robberies. 

Francis Lolonois was a native of that territory in France 
which is called Les Sables cfrOlone, or The Sands of Olone. 
In his youth he was transported to the Caribbee Islands, in 
quality of servant, or slave, according to custom, of which we 
have already spoken. Being out of his time, he came to His- 
paniola. Here he joined for some time with the hunters, be- 
fore he began his robberies upon the Spaniards, which I shall 
now relate, till his unfortunate death. 

At. first he made two or three voyages as a common mariner, 
wherein he behaved himself so courageously, as to gain the fa- 
vor of the governor of Tortuga, Monsieur de La Place ; inso- 
much that he gave him a ship, in which he might seek his for- 
tune, which was very favorable to him at first, for in a short 
time he got great riches. But his cruelties against the Span- 
iards were such, that the fame of them made him so well 
known through the Indies, that the Spaniards in his time 
would choose rather to die or sink fighting, than surrender, 
knowing they should have no mercy at his hands. But for- 
tune, being seldom constant, after some time turned her back ; 
for in a huge storm he lost his ship on the coast of Campeachy. 
The men were all saved, but, coming upon dry land, the Span- 
iards pursued them, and killed the greatest part, wounding also 
Lolonois. Not knowing how to escape, he saved his life by a 
stratagem. Mingling sand with the blood of his wounds, with 
which besmearing his face, and other parts of his body, and 
hiding himself dexterously among the dead, he continued there 
till the Spaniards quitted the field. 

They being gone, he retired to the woods, and bound up his 
wounds as well as he could. These being pretty well healed, 
he took his way to Campeachy, having disguised himself in a 
Spanish habit. Here he enticed certain slaves, to whom he 
promised liberty, if they would obey. him and trust to his con- 
duct. They accepted his promises, and, stealing a canoe, they 
went to sea with him. Now the Spaniards, having made sev- 
eral of his companions prisoners, kept them close in a dungeon, 
while Lolonois went about the town, and saw what passed. 
These % were often asked, " What is become of your captain ?" 
to whom they constantly answered, " He is dead ; " which 
rejoiced the Spaniards, who made bonfires, and, knowing noth- 



66 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ing to the contrary, gave thanks to God for their deliverance 
from such a cruel pirate. Lolonois, having seen these rejoicings 
for his death, made haste to escape, with the slaves above men- 
tioned, and carne safe to Tortuga, the common refuge of all 
sorts of wickedness, and the seminary, as it were, of pirates 
and thieves. Though now his fortune was low, yet he got 
another ship with craft and subtlety, and in it twenty-one men. 
Being well provided with arms and necessaries, he set forth for 
Cuba, on the south whereof is a small village, called De los 
Cayos. The inhabitants drive a great trade in tobacco, sugar, 
and hides, and all in boats, not being able to use ships, by rea- 
son of the little depth of that sea. 

Lolonois was persuaded he should get here some considerable 
prey ; but by the good fortune of some fishermen who saw 
him, and the mercy of God, they escaped him. For the inhab- 
itants of the town despatched immediately a messenger over 
land to the Havana, complaining that Lolonois was come to 
destroy them, with two canoes. The governor could very 
hardly believe this, having received letters from Campeachy 
that he was dead. But, at their importunity,' he sent a ship to 
their relief, with ten guns, and ninety men, well armed, giving 
them this express command, that they should not return into 
his presence, without having totally destroyed those pirates. 
To this effect, he gave them a negro to serve for a hangman, 
and orders that they should immediately hang every one of the 
pirates, excepting Lolonois, their captain, whom they should 
bring alive to .the Havana. This ship arrived at Cayos, of 
whose coming the pirates were advertised beforehand, and in- 
stead of flying, went to seek it in the river Estera, where she 
rode at anchor. The pirates seized some fishermen, and forced 
them by night to show them the entry of the port, hoping soon 
to obtain a greater vessel than their two canoes, and thereby to 
mend their fortune. They arrived, after two in the morning, 
very nigh the ship, and the watch on board the ship asking 
them, " Whence they came, and if they had seen any pirates 
aboard ? " »they caused one of the prisoners to answer, " They 
had seen no pirates, nor any thing else ; " which answer made 
them believe that they were fled upon hearing of their coming. 

But they soon found the contrary, for about break of day 
the pirates assaulted the vessel on both sides, with their two 
canoes, with such vigor, that, though the Spaniards behaved 
themselves as they ought, and made as good defence as they 
could, making some use of their great guns, yet they .were 
forced to surrender, being beaten by the pirates, with sword in 
hand, down under the hatches. From hence Lolonois com- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 67 

manded them to be brought up, one by one, and in this order 
caused their heads to be struck off. Among the rest came up 
the negro, designed to be the pirates' executioner. This fellow 
implored mercy at his hands very dolefully, telling Lolonois he 
was constituted hangman of that ship, and if he would spare 
him, he would tell him faithfully all that he should desire. 
Lolonois, making him confess what he thought fit, commanded 
him to be murdered with the rest. Thus he cruelly and bar- 
barously put them all to death, reserving only one alive, whom 
he sent back to the governor of the Havana, with this mes- 
sage in writing : " I shall never henceforward give quarter to 
any Spaniard whatsoever ; and I have great hopes I shall exe- 
cute on your own person the very same punishment I have 
done upon them you sent against me. Thus I have retaliated 
the kindness you designed to me and my companions. The 
governor, much troubled at this sad news, swore, in the pres- 
ence of many, that he would never grant quarter to any pirate 
that should fall into his hands. But the citizens of the Ha- 
vana desired him not to persist in the execution of that rash 
and rigorous oath, seeing the pirates would certainly take occa- 
sion from thence to do the same, and they had a hundred times 
more opportunity of revenge than he; that, being necessitated 
to get their livelihood by fishery, they should hereafter always 
be in danger of their lives. By these reasons he was persuaded 
to bridle his anger, and remit the severity of his oath. 

Now Lolonois had got a good ship, but very few provisions 
and people in it ; to purchase both which he resolved to cruise 
from one port to another. Doing thus for some time without 
success, he determined to go to the port of Maracaibo. Here 
he surprised a ship laden with plate, and other merchandises, 
outward bound to buy cocoa-nuts. With this prize he returned 
to Tortuga, where he was received with joy by the inhabit- 
ants, they congratulating his happy success, and their own pri- 
vate interest. He stayed not long there, but designed to equip 
a fleet sufficient to transport five hundred men and necessaries. 
Thus provided, he resolved to pillage both cities, towns, and 
villages, and, finally, to take Maracaibo itself. For this pur- 
pose he knew the Island of Tortuga would afford him many 
resolute and courageous men, fit for such enterprises. Besides, 
he had in his service several prisoners well acquainted with the 
ways and places designed upon. 



68 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Lolonois equips a Fleet to land upon the Spanish Islands of America, with 
intent to rob, sack, and burn whatsoever ho met with. 

Of this design-, Lolonois giving notice to all the pirates, 
whether at home or abr6ad, he got together in a little while 
above four hundred men, beside which, there was then in Tor- 
tuga another pirate, named Michael de Basco, who, by his pi- 
racy, had got riches sufficient to live at ease, and go no more 
abroad, having, withal, the office of major of the island. But 
seeing the great preparations that Lolonois made for this expe- 
dition, he joined him, and offered him, that if he would make 
him his chief captain by land, (seeing he knew the country 
very well, and all its avenues,) he would share in his fortunes, 
and go with him. They agreed upon articles, to the great joy 
of Lolonois, knowing that Basco had done great actions in Eu- 
rope, and had the repute of a good soldier. Thus they all 
embarked in eight vessels, that of Lolonois being the greatest, 
having ten guns of indifferent carriage. 

All things being ready, and the whole company on board, 
they set sail together about the end of April, being in all six 
hundred and sixty persons. They steered for that part called 
Bayala, north of Hispaniola. Here they took into their com- 
pany some French hunters, who voluntarily offered themselves ; 
and here they provided themselves with victuals and necessa- 
ries for their voyage. 

From hence they sailed again the last of July, and steered 
directly to the eastern cape of the isle called Punta d'Espada. 
'Hereabouts espying a ship from Puerto Rico, bound for New 
Spain, laden with cocoa-nuts, Lolonois commanded the rest 
of the fleet to wait for him near Savona, on the east of Cape 
Punta d'Espada, he alone intending to take the said vessel. 
The Spaniards, though they had been in sight full two hours, 
and knew them to be pirates, yet would not flee, but prepared 
to fight, being well armed and provided. The combat lasted 
three hours, and then they surrendered. This ship had sixteen 
guns, and fifty fighting men aboard. They found in her one hun- 
dred and twenty thousand weight of cocoa, forty thousand pieces 
of eight, and the value of ten thousand more in jewels. Lolonois 
sent the vessel presently to Tortuga to be unladed, with orders 
to return as soon as possible to Savona, where he would wait 
for them. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet being arrived at 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 69 

Savona, met another Spanish vessel coming from Coman, with 
military provisions to Hispaniola, and money to pay the garisons 
there. This vessel . they also took, without any resistance, 
though mounted with eight guns. In it were seven thousand 
weight of powder, a great number of muskets, and like things, 
with twelve thousand pieces of eight. 

These successes encouraged the pirates, they seeming very 
lucky beginnings, especially finding their fleet pretty well re- 
cruited in a little time : for the first ship arriving at Tortnga, 
the governor ordered it to be instantly unladen, and soon after 
sent back, with fresh provisions, and other necessaries, to Lo- 
lonois. This ship he chose for himself, and gave that which 
he commanded to his comrade, Anthony du Puis. Being thus 
recruited with men, in lieu of them he had lost in taking the 
prizes, and by sickness, he found himself in a good condition 
to set sail for Maracaibo, in the province of Nueva Venezuela, 
in. the latitude of 12° 10' north. This island is twenty leagues 
long, and twelve broad. To this port also belong the islands 
of Onega and Monges. The east side thereof is called Cape 
St. Roman, and the western side Cape of Caquibacoa. The 
gulf is called, by some, the Gulf of Venezuela, but the pi- 
rates usually called it the Bay of Maracaibo. 

At the entrance of this gulf are two islands extending from 
east to west ; that towards the east is called Isla de las Vigilias, 
or the Watch Isle; because in the middle is a high hill, on 
which stands a watch-house ; the other is called Isla de la Pa- 
lomas, or the Isle of Pigeons. Between these two islands runs 
a little sea, or rather lake of fresh water, sixty leagues long, 
and thirty broad ; which disgorging itself into the ocean, dilates 
itself about the said two islands. Between them is the best 
passage for ships, the channel being no broader than the flight 
of a great gun, of about eight pounds. On the Isle of Pigeons 
standeth a castle, to impede the entry of vessels, all being ne- 
cessitated to come very nigh the castle, by reason of two banks 
of sand on the other side, with, only fourteen foot water. 
Many other banks of sand there are in this lake ; as that called 
El Tablazo, or the Great Table, no deeper than ten foot, forty 
leagues within the lake. Others there are, that have no more 
than six, seven, or eight foot in depth ; all are very dangerous, 
especially to mariners unacquainted with them. West hereof 
is the city of Maracaibo, very pleasant to the view, its houses 
being built along the shore, having delightful prospects all round j 
the city may contain three or four thousand persons, slaves in- 
cluded, all which make a town of a reasonable bigness. There 
are judged to be about eight hundred persons able to bear arms, 



70 t;;e buccaneers of AMERICA. 

all Spaniards. Here are one parish church, well built and 
adorned, four monasteries, and one hospital. The city is gov- 
erned by a deputy-governor, substituted by the governor of tbe 
Caraccas. The trade here exercised is mostly in hides and 
tobacco. The inhabitants possess great numbers of cattle, and 
many plantations which extend thirty leagues in the country, 
especially towards the great town of Gibraltar, where are gath- 
ered great quantities of cocoa-nuts, and all other garden-fruits, 
which serve for the regale and sustenance of the inhabitants of 
Maracaibo, whose territories are much drier than those of Gib- 
raltar. Hither those of. Maracaibo send great quantities of flesh, 
they making returns in oranges, lemons, and other fruits; for 
the inhabitants of Gibraltar want flesh, their fields not being 
capable of feeding cows or sheep. 

Before Maracaibo is a very spacious and secure port, wherein 
may be built all sorts of vessels, having great convenience of 
timber, which may be transported thither at little charge. 
Nigh the town lies also a small island called Borrica, where 
they feed great, numbers of goats, which cattle the inhabitants 
use more for their skins than their flesh or milk; they slight- 
ing these two, unless while they are tender and young kids. 
In the fields are fed some sheep, but of a very small size. In 
some islands of the lake, and in other places hereabouts, are 
many savage Indians, called, by the Spaniards, bravoes, or wild : 
these could never be reduced by the Spaniards, being brutish 
and untamable. They dwell mostly towards the west side of 
the lake, in little huts built on trees growing in the water; so 
to keep themselves from the innumerable mosquitoes, or gnats, 
which infest and torment them night and day. To the east 
of the said lake are whole towns of fishermen, who likewise 
live in huts built on trees, as the former. Another reason of 
this dwelling, is the frequent inundations : for after great rains, 
the land is often overflown for two or three leagues, there being 
no less than twenty-five great rivers that feed this lake. The 
town of Gibraltar is also frequently drowned by these, so that 
the inhabitants are constrained to retire to their plantations. 

Gibraltar, situate at the side of the lake, about forty leagues 
within it, receives its provisions of flesh, as has been said, from 
Maracaibo. The town is inhabited by about fifteen hundred 
persons, whereof four hundred may bear arms ; the greatest 
part of them keep shops, wherein they exercise one trade or 
other. In the adjacent fields are numerous plantations of sugar 
and cocoa, in which are many tall and beautiful trees, of whose 
.timber houses may be built, and ships. Among these are many 
haudsome and proportionable cedars, seven or eight foot about, 



THE BUCCANEERS uF AMERICA. 71 

of which they build boats and ships, so as to bear one only 
great sail ; such vessels being called periagues. The whole 
country is well furnished with rivers "and brooks, very useful 
in droughts, being then cut into many little channels to water 
their fields and plantations. They plant also much tobacco, 
well esteemed in Europe, and, for its goodness, is called there 
tobacco de sacerdotes, or priests' tobacco. They enjoy nigh 
twenty leagues of jurisdiction, which is bounded by very high 
mountains, perpetually covered with snow. On the other side 
of these mountains is situate a great city called Merida, to which 
the town of Gibraltar is subject. All merchandise is carried 
hence to the aforesaid city on mules, and that but at one season 
of the year, by reason of the excessive cold in those high moun- 
tains. On the said mules returns are made in flour of meal, 
which comes from towards Peru, by the way of Estaffe. 

Thus far I thought good to make a short description of the 
Lake of Maracaibo, that my reader might the better comprehend 
what I shall say concerning the actions of pirates in this place, 
as follows. 

Lolonois arriving at the Gulf of Venezuela, cast anchor with 
his whole fleet out of sight of the Vigilia or Watch Isle ; next 
day very early he set sail thence with all his ships for the Lake 
of Maracaibo, where they cast anchor again ; then they landed 
their men, with design to attack first *the fortress that com- 
manded the bar, therefore called De la Barra. This fort con- 
sists only of several great baskets of earth placed on a rising 
ground, planted with sixteen great guns, with several other 
heaps of earth round about for covering their men. The pirates 
having landed a league off this fort, advanced by degrees 
towards it ; but the governor having espied their landing, had 
placed an ambuscade to cut them off behind, while he should 
attack them in front. This the pirates discovered, and getting 
before, they defeated it so entirely, that not a man could retreat to 
the castle. This done, Lolonois, with his companions, advanced 
immediately to the fort, and after a fight of almost three hours, 
with the usual desperation of this sort of people, they became 
masters thereof, without any other arms than swords and pistols. 
While they were fighting, those who were the routed ambus- 
cade, not being able to get into the castle, retired into Maracaibo 
in great confusion and disorder, crying, " The pirates will pres- 
ently be here with two thousand men and more." The city 
having formerly been taken by this kind of people, and sacked 
to the uttermost, had still an idea of that misery; so that upon 
these dismal news they endeavored to escape towards Gibraltar 
in their boats and canoes, carrying with them all the goods and 



72 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMEP.ICA. 

money they could. Being come to Gibraltar, they told how 
the fortress was taken, and nothing had been saved, nor any 
persons escaped. 

The castle thus taken by the pirates, they presently signified 
to the ships their victory, that they should come farther in with- 
out fear of danger: the rest of that day was spent in ruining 
and demolishing the said castle. They nailed the guns, and 
burnt as much as they could not carry away, burying the dead, 
and sending on board the fleet the wounded. Next day, very 
early, they weighed anchor, and steered all together towards 
Maracaibo, about six leagues distant from the fort ; but the 
wind failing that day, they could advance little, being forced 
to expect the tide. Next morning they came in sight of the 
town, and prepared for landing under the protection of their 
own guns, fearing the Spaniards might have laid an ambuscade 
in the woods : they put their men into canoes, brought for that 
purpose, and landed where they thought most convenient, shoot- 
ing still furiously with their great guns. Of those in the canoes, 
half only went ashore, the other half remained aboard; they 
fired from the ships as fast as possible towards the woody part 
of the shore, but could discover nobody ; then they entered the 
town, whose inhabitants, as I told you, were retired to the 
wood and Gibraltar, with their wives, children, and families. 
Their houses they left*well provided with victuals, as flour, 
bread, pork, brandy, wines, and poultry. With these the pirates 
fell to making good cheer, for in four weeks before they had 
no opportunity of filling their stomachs with such plenty. 

They instantly possessed themselves of the best houses in the 
town, and placed sentinels wherever they thought convenient ; 
the great church served them for their main-guard. Next day. 
they sent out one hundred and sixty men to find out some of the 
inhabitants in the woods thereabouts ; these returned the same 
night, bringing with them twenty thousand pieces of eight, sev- 
eral mules laden with household goods and merchandise, and 
twenty prisoners, men, women, and children. Some of these were 
put to the rack, to make them confess where they had hid the 
rest of their goods ; but they could extort very little from them. 
Lolonois, who valued not murdering; though in cold blood, ten 
or twelve Spaniards, drew his cutlass, and hacked one to pieces 
before the rest, saying, "If you do not confess and declare where 
you have hid the rest of your goods, I will do the like to all 
your companions." At last, amongst these horrible cruelties and 
inhuman threats, one promised to show the place where the 
rest of the Spaniards were hid; but those that were fled, hav- 
ing intelligence of it, changed place, and buried the remnant 



THE BUCCANEEKS OF AMERICA. 73 

of their riches under ground, so that the pirates could not find 
them out, unless some of their own party should reveal them ; 
besides, the Spaniards flying from one place to another every 
day. and often changing woods, were jealous even of each oth- 
er, so as the father durst scarce trust his own son. 

After the pirates had been fifteen days in Maracaibo, thev 
resolved for Gibraltar ; but the inhabitants having received in- 
telligence thereof, and. that they intended afterwards to go to 
Merida, gave notice of it to the governor there, who was a 
valiant soldier, and had been an officer in Flanders. His an- 
swer was : He would have them take no care, for he hoped, in 
a little while to exterminate the said pirates. Whereupon he 
came to Gibraltar with four hundred men well armed, ordering 
at the same time the inhabitants to put themselves in arms, so 
that in all he made eight hundred fighting men. With the 
same speed he raised a battery towards the sea, mounted with 
twenty guns, covered with great baskets of earth ; another bat- 
tery he placed in another place, mounted with eight guns. 
This done, he barricadoed a narrow passage to the town through 
which the pirates must pass, opening at the same time another 
through much dirt and mud into the wood, totally unknown 
to the pirates. 

The pirates, ignorant of these preparations, having embarked 
all their prisoners and booty, took their way towards Gibraltar. 
Being come in sight of the place, they saw the royal standard 
hanging forth, and that those of the town designed to defend 
their houses. Lolonois, seeing this, called a council of war 
what they ought to do, telling his officers and mariners, " that 
the difficulty of the enterprise was very great, seeing the 
Spaniards had had so much time -to put themselves in a posture 
of defence, and had got a good body of men together, with much 
ammunition; but notwithstanding," said he, "have a good 
courage ; we must either defend ourselves like good soldiers, or 
lose our lives with all the riches we have got. Do as I shall 
do who am your captain. At other times we have fought with 
fewer men than we have in our company at present, and yet 
we have overcome greater numbers than there possibly can be 
in this town ; the more they are, the more glory, and the 
greater riches, we shall gain." The pirates supposed that all 
the riches of the inhabitants of Maracaibo were transported to 
Gibraltar, or at least the greatest part. After this speech, they 
all promised to follow and 'obey him. Lolonois made answer, 
" 'Tis well ; but know ye, withal, that the first man who shall 
show any fear, or the least apprehension thereof, I will pistol 
him with my own hands." 
7 



74 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



With this resolution they cast anchor nigh the shore, neat 
three quarters of a league from the town : next day, before sun- 
rising, they landed three hundred and eighty men well provided, 
and armed every one with a cutlass and one or two pistols, and 
sufficient powder and bullet for thirty charges. Here they all 
shook hands in testimony of good courage, and began their 
march, Lolonois speaking thus: " Come, my brethren, follow 
me, and have good courage." They followed their guide, who, 
believing he led them well, brought them to the way which 
the governor had barricadoed. Not being able to pass that 
way, they went to the other newly made in the wood, among 
the mire, which the Spaniards could shoot into at pleasure ; 
but the pirates, full of courage, cut down the branches of trees, 
and threw them on the way, that they might not stick in the 
dirt. Meanwhile, those of Gibraltar fired with their great guns, 
so furiously, they could scarce hear nor see for the noise and 
smoke. Being past the wood, they came on firm ground, 
where they met with a battery of six guns, which immediately 
the Spaniards discharged upon them, all loaded with small bul- 
lets and pieces of iron ; and the Spaniards, sallying forth, set 
upon them with such fury as caused the pirates to give way, few 
of them caring to advance towards the fort, many of them being 
already killed and wounded. This made them go back to seek 
another way ; but the Spaniards having cut down many trees 
to hinder the passage, they could find none, but were forced to 
return to that they had left. Here the Spaniards continued to 
fire as before, nor would they sally out of their batteries to 
attack them anymore. Lolonois and his companions not being 
able to grimp up the baskets of earth, were compelled to use an 
old stratagem, wherewith at last they deceived and overcame 
the Spaniards. 

Lolonois retired suddenly with all his men, making show as 
if he fled. Hereupon the Spaniards, crying out, " They flee, 
they flee, let us follow them," sallied forth, with great disorder, 
to the pursuit. Being drawn to some distance from the bat- 
teries, which was the pirates' only design, they turned upon 
them unexpectedly, with sword in hand, and killed above two 
hundred men ; and thus fighting their way through those who 
remained, they possessed themselves of the batteries. The 
Spaniards that remained abroad, givi.ig themselves over for lost, 
fled to the woods ; those in the battery of eight guns surren- 
dered themselves, obtaining quarter for their lives. The pirates 
being now become masters of the town, pulled down the- Span- 
ish colors and set up their own, taking prisoners as many as 
they could find. These they carried to the great church, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




Capture of Gibraltar. 



76 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

where they raise a battery of several great guns, fearing lest 
the Spaniards that were fled should rally, and come upon them 
again ; but next day; being all fortified, their fears were over. 
They gathered the dead to bury them, being above five hun- 
dred Spaniards, besides the wounded in the town, and those 
that died of their wounds in the woods. The pirates had also 
above one hundred and fifty prisoners, and nigh five hundred 
slaves, many women and children. 

Of their own companions, only forty were killed, and almost 
eighty wounded, whereof the greatest part died through the 
bad air', which brought fevers and other illness. They put the 
slain Spaniards into two great boats, and carrying them a quar- 
ter of a league to sea, they sunk the boats ; this done, they 
gathered all the plate, household stuff, and merchandise they 
could, or thought convenient, to carry away. The Spaniards 
who had any thing left had hid it carefully ; but the unsatisfied 
pirates, not contented with the riches they had got, sought for 
more goods and merchandise, not sparing those who lived in 
the fields, such as hunters and planters. They had scarce been 
eighteen days on the place, when the greatest part of the pris- 
oners died for hunger; for in 'the town were few provis- 
ions, especially of flesh, though they had some, but no suffi- 
cient quantity of flour of meal, and this the pirates had taken 
for themselves, as they also took the swine, cows, sheep, and 
poultry, without allowing any share to the poor prisoners; for 
these they only provided some small quantity of mules' and 
asses' flesh ; and many, who could not eat of that loathsome pro- 
vision, died for hunger, their stomachs not being accustomed to 
such sustenance ; only some women were allowed better cheer, 
because they served their sensual delights, to which those rob- 
bers are much given. Among these, some had been forced, 
others were volunteers, though almost all rather submitted 
through poverty and hunger, than any other cause. Of the 
prisoners, many also died under the torment they sustained to 
make them discover their money or jewels ; and of these, some 
had none, nor knew of none, and others, denying what they 
knew, endured such horrible deaths. 

Finally, after having been in possession of the town four en- 
tire weeks, they sent four of the prisoners to the Spaniards that 
were fled to the woods, demanding of them a ransom for not 
burning the town. The sum demanded was ten thousand 
pieces of eight, which if not sent, they threatened to reduce it 
to ashes. For bringing in this money, they allowed them only 
two days ; but the Spaniards not having been able to gather so 
punctually such a sum, the pirates fired many places of the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 77 

town ; whereupon the inhabitants begged them to help quench 
the fire, and the ransom should be readily paid. The pirates 
condescended, helping as much as they could to stop the fire ; 
but, notwithstanding all their best endeavors, one part of the 
town was ruined, especially the church belonging to the monas- 
tery was burned down. After they had received the said sum, 
they carried aboard all the riches they had got, with a great 
number of slaves which had not paid the ransom ; for all the 
prisoners had sums of money set upon them, and the slaves 
were also commanded to be redeemed. Hence they returned 
to Maracaibo, where, being arrived, they found a general . con- 
sternation in the whole city, to which they sent three or four 
prisoners, to tell the governor and inhabitants, " they should 
bring them thirty thousand pieces of eight aboard their ships, 
for a ransom of their houses, otherwise they should be sacked 
anew and burned." 

Among these debates, a party of pirates came on shore, and 
carried away the images, pictures, and bells of the great church, 
aboard the fleet. The Spaniards who were sent to demand the 
sum aforesaid, returned, with orders to make some agreement, 
who concluded with the pirates to give for their ransom and 
liberty twenty thousand pieces of eight, and five hundred cows, 
provided that they should commit no further hostilities, but 
depart thence presently after payment of money and cattle. 
The one and the other being delivered, the whole fleet set sail, 
causing great joy to the inhabitants of Maracaibo, to see them- 
selves quit of them. But three days after they renewed their 
fears with admiration, seeing the pirates appear again, and re- 
enter the port with all their ships. But these apprehensions 
vanished upon hearing one of the pirates' errand, who came 
ashore from Lolonois, " to demand a skilful pilot, to conduct 
one of the greatest ships over the dangerous bank that lieth at 
the very entry of the lake ; " which petition, or rather com- 
mand, was instantly granted. 

They had now been full two months in those towns, 
wherein they committed those cruel and insolent actions we 
have related. Departing thence, they took their course to His- 
paniola, and arrived there in eight days, casting anchor in a 
port called Isla de la Vacca, or Cow Island. This island is 
inhabited by French Buccaneers, who mostly sell the flesh they 
hunt to pirates and others who now and then put in there to 
victual or trade. Here they unloaded their whole cargazon 
of riches, the usual storehouse of the pirates being commonly 
under the shelter of the Buccaneers. Here they made a divi- 
dend of all their prizes and gains, according to the order and 
7# 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



degree of every one, as has been mentioned before. Having 
made an exact calculation of all their plunder, they found in 
ready money two hundred and sixty thousand pieces of eight. 
This being divided, every one received for his share in money, 
as also in silk, linen, and other commodities, to the value of 
above one hundred pieces of eight. Those who had been 
wounded received their first part, after the rate mentioned be- 
fore, for the loss of their limbs. Then they weighed all the 
plate uncoined, reckoning ten pieces of eight to a pound. The 
jewels were prized differently, either too high or too low, by 
reason of their ignorance. This done, every one was put to 
his oath again, that he had not smuggled any thing from the 
common stock. Hence they proceeded to the dividend of the 
shares of such as were dead in battle, or otherwise. These 
shares were given to their friends, to be kept entire for them, 
and to be delivered in due time to their nearest relations, or 
their apparent lawful heirs. 

The whole dividend being finished, they set sail for Tor- 
tuga. Here they arrived a month after, to the great joy of 
most of the island ; for as to the common pirates, in three 
weeks they had scarce any money left, having spent it all in 
things of little value, or lost it at play. Here had arrived, not 
long before them, two French ships, with wine and brandy, 
and such like commodities, whereby these liquors, at the arri- 
val of the pirates, were indifferent cheap. But this lasted not 
long, for soon after they were enhanced extremely, a gallon of 
brandy being sold for four pieces of eight. The governor of 
the island bought of the pirates the whole cargo of the shir 
laden with cocoa, giving for that rich commodity scarce the 
twentieth part of its worth. Thus they made shift to lose and 
spend the riches they had got, in much less time than they 
were purchased. The taverns and stews, according to the cus- 
tom of pirates, got the greatest part ; so that soon after they 
were forced to seek more by the same unlawful means they haa 
got the former. ' 



CHAPTER X. 



Lolonois makes new Preparations to take the City of St. James de Leon, as also 
that of Nicaragua, where he miserably perishes. 

Lolonois had got great repute at Tortuga, by this last voy- 
age, because he brought home such considerable profit : and 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 79 

now he need take no great care .to gather men to serve under 
him, more coming in voluntarily than Jhe could employ, every 
one reposing such confidence in his conduct, that they judged 
it very safe to expose themselves, in his company, to the great- 
est dangers. He resolved, therefore, a second voyage to the 
parts of Nicaragua, to pillage there as many towns as he could. 
Having published his new preparations, he had all his men 
together at the time, being about seven hundred. Of these he 
put three hundred aboard the ship he took at Maracaibo, and 
the rest in five other vessels of lesser burthen, so that they were 
in all six ships. The first port they went to was Bay aha, in 
Hispaniola, to victual the fleet, and take in provisions; which 
done, they steered their course to a port called Matamana, on 
the south side of Cuba, intending to take here all the canoes 
they could, these coasts being frequented by the fishers of tor- 
toises, who carry them hence to the Havana. They took as 
many of them, to the great grief of those miserable people, as 
they thought necessary, Tor tliey had great use for these small 
bottoms, by reason the port they designed for had not depth 
enough for ships of any burthen. Hence they took their 
course towards the Cape Gracias a Dios, on the continent, in 
latitude 15° north, one hundred leagues from the Island de los 
Pinos. Being at sea, they were taken with a sad and tedious 
calm, and. by the agitation of the waves alone, were thrown 
into the Gulf of Honduras. Here they labored hard in vain 
to regain what they had lost, both the waters and the winds 
being contrary; besides, the ship wherein Lolonois was em- 
barked could not follow the rest, and, what was worse, they 
wanted provisions. Hereupon, they were forced to put into 
the first port they could reach, to revictual. So they entered, 
with their canoes, into the River Xagua, inhabited by Indians, 
whom they totally destroyed, finding great quantities of millet, 
and many hogs and hens, not contented with which, they de- 
termined to remain there till the bad weather was over, and to 
pillage all the towns and villages along the coast of the gulf. 
Thus they passed from one place to another, seeking still more 
provisions, with which they were not sufficiently supplied. 
Having searched and rifled many villages, where they found no 
great matter, they came at last to Puerto Cavallo. Here the 
Spaniards have two store-houses, to keep the merchandises that 
are brought from the inner parts of the country, till the arrival. 
of the ships. There was then in the port a Spanish ship of 
twenty-four guns and sixteen pedreros, or mortar-pieces. This 
ship was immediately seized by the pirates, and then drawing 
nigh the shore, they landed and burned the two storehouses 



SO THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

with all the rest of the houses there. Many inhabitants, like- 
wise, they took prisoners, and committed upon them the most 
inhuman cruelties that ever heathens invented, putting them to 
the cruellest tortures they could devise. It was the custom of 
Lolonois, that having tormented persons not confessing, he 
would instantly cut them in pieces with his hanger, and pull 
out their tongues, desiring to do so, if possible, to every Span- 
iard in the world. It often happened, that some of these mis- 
erable prisoners, being forced by the rack, would promise to 
discover the places where the fugitive Spaniards lay hid, which 
being not able afterwards to perform, they were put to more 
cruel deaths than they who were dead before. 

The prisoners being all dead but two, (whom they reserved 
to show them what they desired,) they marched hence to the 
town of San Pedro, or St. Peter, ten or twelve leagues from 
Puerto Cavallo, being three hundred men, whom Lolonois led, 
leaving behind him Moses Van Vin, his lieutenant, to govern 
the rest in his absence. Being come three leagues on their 
way, they met with a troop of Spaniards, who lay in ambus- 
cade for their coming. These they set upon with all the cour- 
age imaginable, and at last totally defeated. Howbeit, they 
behaved themselves very manfully at first, but not being able 
to resist the- fury of the pirates, they were forced to give way 
and save themselves by flight, leaving many pirates dead in the 
place, some wounded, and some of their own party maimed, by 
the way. These Lolonois put to death without mercy, having 
asked them what questions he thought fit for his purpose. 

There were still remaining some few prisoners not wounded. 
These were asked by Lolonois if any more Spaniards did lie 
farther on in ambuscade ? They answered, there were. Then 
being brought before him, one by one, he asked if there was 
no other way to the town but that ? This he did to avoid, if 
possible, those ambuscades. But they all constantly answered 
him, they knew none. Having asked them all, and finding 
they could show him no other way, Lolonois grew outrage- 
ously passionate, so that he drew his cutlass, and with it cut 
open the breast of one of those poor Spaniards, and, pulling 
out his heart, began to bite and gnaw it with his teeth, like a 
ravenous wolf, saying to the rest, " I will serve you all alike, 
if you show me not another way." 

Hereupon those miserable wretches promised to show him 
another way; but, withal, they told him it was extremely dif- 
ficult, and laborious. Thus, to satisfy that cruel tyrant, they 
began to lead him and his army ; but finding it not for his pur- 
pose, as they had told him, he was forced to return to the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 81 

former way, swearing, with great choler and indignation, Mort 
Dieu, les Espagnols me le payeront. By God's death, the 
Spaniards shall pay me for this. 

Next day he fell into another ambuscade, which he assaulted 
with such horrible fury, that in less than an hour's time he 
routed the Spaniards, and killed the greatest part of them. The 
Spaniards thought by, these ambuscades better to destroy the 
pirates, assaulting them by degrees ; and for this reason had 
posted themselves in several places. At last he met with a 
third ambuscadej where was placed a party stronger, and more 
advantageously, than the former. Yet, notwithstanding, the 
pirates, by continually throwing little fire-balls in great num- 
bers,- for some time, forced this party as well as the former to 
flee, and this with so great loss of men, that before they could 
reach the town, the greatest part of the Spaniards were either 
killed or wounded. There was but one path which led to the 
town, very well barricadoed with good defences ; and the rest 
of the town round was planted with shrubs called raqueltes, 
full of thorns very sharp-pointed. This sort of fortification 
seemed stronger than the triangles used in Europe, when an 
army is of necessity to pass by the place of an enemy ; it being 
almost impossible for the pirates to traverse those shrubs. The 
Spaniards posted behind the said defences, seeing the pirates come, 
began to ply them with their great guns; but these perceiving 
them ready to fire, used to stoop down, and when the shot was 
made, to fall upon the defendants with fire-balls, and naked 
swords, killing many of the town. Yet, notwithstanding, not 
being able to advance any farther, they retired for the present. 
Then they renewed the attack, with fewer men than before, 
and observing not- to shoot till they were very nigh, they gave 
the Spaniards a charge so dexterously, that with every shot 
they killed an enemy. 

The attack continuing thus eager on both sides till night, 
the Spaniards were compelled to hang forth a white flag, and 
desired to come to a parley. The only conditions they required 
were, that the pirates should give the inhabitants quarter for 
two hours. This little time they demanded, with intent to 
carry away and hide as much of their goods and riches as they 
could, and to fly to some other neighboring town. Granting this 
article, they entered the town, and continued there the two 
hours, without committing the least hostility on the inhabitants ; 
but no sooner was that time past, than Lolonois ordered that 
the inhabitants should be followed, and robbed of .all they had 
carried away; and not only their goods, but their persons like- 
wise' to be made prisoners ; though the greatest part of their 



82 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

merchandise and goods were so hid, as the pirates could 
not find them, except a few leathern sacks, filled with anil, 
or indigo. 

Having staid here a few days, and, according to their cus- 
tom, committed most horrid insolencies, they at last quitted 
the place, carrying away all they possibly could, and reducing 
the town to ashes. Being come to the sea-side, where they left 
a party of their own, they found these had been cruising upon 
the fishermen thereabouts, or who came that way from the 
River of Guatemala: in this river was also expected a ship 
from Spain. Finally, they resolved to go towards the islands 
on the other side of the gulf, there to cleanse and careen their 
vessels ; but they left two canoes before the coast, or rather the 
mouth of the River of Guatemala, in order to take the ship, 
which, as I said, was expected from Spain. 

But their chief intent in going'hither was to seek provisions, 
knowing the tortoises of those places are excellent food. Being 
arrived, they divided themselves, each party choosing a fit post 
for that fishery. They undertook to knit nets with the rinds 
of certain trees called macoa, whereof they make also ropes and 
cables ; so that no vessel can be in need of such things, if they 
can but find the said trees. There are also many places where 
they find pitch in so great abundance, that running down the 
sea-coasts, being melted by the sun, it congeals in the water in 
great heaps, like small islands. This pitch is not like that of 
Europe, but resembles, both in color and shape, that froth of 
the sea called bitumen. But, in my judgment, this matter is 
nothing but wax mixed with sand, which stormy weather, and 
the rolling waves of great rivers, hath cast into the sea. For in 
those parts arc great quantities of bees, who make their honey 
in trees, to the bodies of which the honey-comb being fixed, 
when tempests arise, they are torn away, and by the fury of 
the winds carried into the sea, as is said. Some naturalists say, 
that the honey and the wax are separated by the salt water, 
whence proceeds the good amber. This opinion seems the 
more probable, because the said amber tastes as wax doth. 

But to return to my discourse. The pirates made in those 
islands all the haste they possibly could to equip their vessels, 
hearing that the Spanish ship was come which they expected. 
They spent some time cruising on the coasts of Yucatan, where 
inhabit many Indians, who seek for the said amber in those 
seas. And I shall here, by the by, make some short remarks 
on the manner of living of the Indians, and their religion. 

They have now been above one hundred years under the 
Spaniards, to whom they performed all manner of services ; for 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 83 

whensoever any of them needed a slave, or servant, they sent 
for these to serve them as long as they pleased. By the Span- 
iards they were initiated in. the principles of the Christian faith 
and religion, and they sent them every Sunday and holiday a 
priest to perform divine service among them. Afterwards, for 
reasons not known, but certainly through temptations of the 
father of idolatry, the devil, they suddenly cast off the Christian 
religion, abusing the priest that was sent them. This provoked 
the Spaniards to punish them, by casting many of the chief 
into prison. Every one of those barbarians had, and hath still, 
a god to himself, whom he serves and worships. It is a matter 
of admiration how they use a child newly born. As soon as it 
comes into the world, they carry it to the temple : here they 
make a hole, which they fill with ashes only, on which they 
place the child naked, leaving it there a whole night alone, not 
without great danger, no body daring to come near it : mean- 
while the temple is open on all sides, that all sorts of beasts may 
freely come in and out. Next day, the father and relations of 
the infant return to see if the track or step of any animal ap- 
pears in the ashes : not finding any, they leave the child there 
till some beast has approached the infant, and left behind him 
the marks of his feet. To this animal, whatsoever it be, they 
consecrate the creature newly born, as to its god, which he is 
bound to worship all his life, esteeming the said beast his patron 
and protector. They offer to their gods sacrifices of fire, where- 
in they burn a certain gum, called by them copal, whose smoke 
smells very deliciously. When the infant is grown up, the 
parents thereof tell him who he ought to worship, serve, and 
honor as his own proper god. Then he goes to the temple, 
where he makes offerings to the said beast. Afterwards, if in 
the course of his life any one injure him, or any evil happen 
to him, he complains to that beast and sacrifices to it for re- 
venge. Hence it often comes, that those who have done the 
injury of which he complains, are bitten, killed, or otherwise 
hurt by such animals. 

After this superstitious- and idolatrous manner live those 
miserable and ignorant Indians that inhabit the islands of the 
Gulf of Honduras; as also many of them on the continent of 
Yucatan, in the territories whereof are most excellent ports, 
where those Indians most commonly build their houses. These 
people are not very faithful to one another, and use strange 
ceremonies at their marriages. Whensoever any one pretends 
to marry a young damsel, he first applies himself to her father 
or nearest relation. He examines him nicely about the manner 
of cultivating their plantations, and other things at his pleasure. 



84 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Having satisfied the questions of his father-in-law, he gives the 
young man a bow and arrow, with which he repairs to the 
young maid, and presents her with a garland of green leaves 
and sweet-smelling flowers ; this she is obliged to put on her 
nead, and lay aside that which she wore before, it being the 
custom for virgins to go perpetually crowned with flowers. 
This garland being received and put on her head, every one of 
the relations and friends go to advise with others, whether that 
marriage will be like to be happy or not ; then they meet at 
the house of the damsel's father, where they drink of a liquor 
made of maize, or Indian wheat ; and here, before the whole 
company, the father gives his daughter in marriage to the bride- 
groom. Next day the bride comes to her mother, and in her 
presence pulls off the garland, and tears it in pieces with great 
cries and lamentations. Many other things I could relate of 
the manner of living and customs of those Indians, but I shall 
follow my discourse. 

Our pirates, therefore, had many canoes of the Indians in the 
Isle of Sambale, five leagues from the coasts of Yucatan. Here 
is great quantity of amber, but especially when any storm arises 
from towards the east ; whence the waves bring many things, 
and very different. Through this sea no vessels can pass, unless 
very small, it being too shallow. In the lands that are sur- 
rounded by this sea, is found much Campeachy wood, and other 
things that serve for dyeing, much esteemed in Europe, and 
would be more, if we had the skill of the Indians, who make a 
dye or tincture that never fades. 

The pirates having been in that gulf three months, and re- 
ceiving advice that the Spanish ship was come, hastened to the 
port where the ship lay at anchor unlading his merchandise, 
with design to assault her as soon as possible ; but first, they 
thought convenient to send away some of their boats to seek 
for a small vessel also expected, very richly laden with plate, 
indigo, and cochineal. Meanwhile, the ship's crew having 
notice that the pirates designed upon them, prepared all things 
for a good defence, being mounted with forty-two guns, well 
furnished with arms and other necessaries, and one hundred 
and thirty fighting men. To Lolonois all this seemed but little, 
for he assaulted her with great courage, his own ship carrying 
but twenty-two guns, and having no more than a small saety. 
or fly-boat, for help. But the Spaniards defended themselves 
so well, as they forced the pirates to retire ; but the smoke of 
the powder continuing thick, as a dark fog or mist, with four 
canoes well manned, they boarded the ship with great agility, 
and forced the Spaniards to surrender. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 85 

The ship being taken, they found not in her what they 
thought, being already almost unladen. All they got was only 
fifty bars of \iron, a small parcel of paper, some earthen jars of 
wine, and other things of small importance. 

Then Lolonois called a council of war, and told them he in- 
tended for Guatamala. Hereupon they divided into several 
sentiments, some liking the proposal, and others disliking it, 
especially a party of them who were but raw in those exercises, 
and who imagined at their setting forth from Tortuga, that 
pieces of eight were gathered as easily as pears from a tree ; 
but finding most things contrary to their expectation, they 
quitted the fleet and returned ; others affirmed they had rather 
starve than return home without a great deal of money. 

But the major part judging the propounded voyage little to 
their purpose, separated from Lolonois and the rest. Of these, 
one Moses Vanclein was ringleader, captain of the ship taken 
at Puerto Cavallo : this fellow steered for Tortuga, to cruise to 
and fro in these seas. With him joined another comrade of his, 
by name Pierre le Picard, who seeing the rest leave Lolonois, 
thought fit to do the same. These runaways having thus part- 
ed company, steered homewards, coasting along the continent 
till they came to Costa Rica ; here they landed a strong party 
nigh the River Veraguas, and inarched in good order to the 
town of the same name ; this they took and totally pillaged, 
though the Spaniards made a strong resistance. They brought 
away some of the inhabitants as prisoners, with all that they 
had, which was of no great importance, by reason of the pov- 
erty of the place, which exerciseth no other trade than working 
in the mines, where some of the inhabitants constantly attend, 
while none seek for gold, but only slaves. These they compel 
to dig and wash the earth in the neighboring rivers, where often 
they find pieces of gold as big as peas. The pirates gaining in 
this adventure but seven or eight pound weight of gold, they 
returned, giving over the design to go to the town of Nata, 
situate on the coasts of the South Sea, whose inhabitants are 
rich merchants, and their slaves work in the mines of Veraguas ; 
being deterred by the multitude of Spaniards gathered on all 
sides to fall upon them, whereof they had timely advice. 

Lolonois, thus left by his companions, remained alone in the 

Gulf of Honduras. His ship being too great to get out at the 

reflux of those seas, there he sustained great want of provisions, 

so as they were constrained to go ashore every day to seek 

sustenance, and not finding any thing else, they were forced 

to kill and eat monkeys, and other animals, such as they 

could find. 

8 



S6 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

At last, in the latitude of the Cape of Gracias a Dios, near a 
certain little island called De las Pertas, his ship struck on a 
bank of sand, where it stuck so fast, as no art could get her orF 
again, though they unladed all the guns, iron, and other weighty- 
things as much as they could. Hereupon they were forced to 
break the ship in pieces, and with planks and nails build them- 
selves a boat to get away; and while they are busy about it, I 
shall describe the said isles and their inhabitants. 

The Islands De las Pertas are inhabited by savage Indians, 
not having known or conversed with civil people. They are 
tall and very nimble, running almost as fast as horses ; at div» 
ing, also, they are very dexterous and hardy. From the bottom 
of the sea I saw them take up an anchor of six hundred weight, 
tying a cable to it with great dexterity, and pulling it from a 
rock. Their arms are made of wood, without any iron point ; 
but some instead thereof use a crocodile's tooth. They have 
no bows nor arrows, as the other Indians have, but their com- 
mon weapon is a sort of lance, a fathom and a half long. Here 
are many plantations, surrounded with woods, whence they 
gather abundance of fruits, as potatoes, bananas, racoven, ananas, 
and many others. They have no houses to dwell in, as at other 
places in the Indies. Some say they eat human flesh, which is 
confirmed by what happened when Lolonois was there. Two 
of his companions, one a Frenchman and the other a Spaniard, 
went into the woods, where, having straggled a while, a troop 
of Indians pursued them. They defended themselves as well 
as they could with their swords, but at last were forced to flee. 
The nimble Frenchman escaped; but the Spaniard, being not 
so swift, was taken and heard of no more. Some days after, 
twelve pirates set forth very well armed to seek their compan- 
ion, among whom was the Frenchman, who conducted them, 
and showed them the place where he left him ; here they found 
that the Indians had kindled a fire, and at a small distance they 
found a man's bones well roasted, with some pieces of flesh ill- 
scraped off" the bones, and one hand, which had only two fingers 
remaining, whence they concluded they had roasted the poor 
Spaniard. 

They marched on, seeking for Indians, and found a great 
number together, who endeavored to escape, but they overtook 
some of them, and brought aboard thtsir ships five men and four 
women ; with these they took much pains to make themselves 
be understood, and to gain their affections, giving them trifles, 
as knives, beads, and the like ; they gave them also victuals and 
drink, but nothing would they taste. It was also observable, 
that while they were prisoners, they spoke not one word to 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 87 

each other ; so that seeing these poor Indians were much afraid, 
they presented them again with some small things and let them 
go. When they parted, they made signs they would come 
again, but they soon forgot their benefactors, and were never 
heard of more; neither could any notice afterwards be had of 
these Indians, nor any others in the whole island, which made 
the pirates suspect that both those that were taken and all the 
rest of the islanders swam away by night to some little neigh- 
boring islands, especially considering they could never set eyes 
on any Indian more, nor any boat or other vessel. Meanwhile 
the pirates were very desirous to see their long-boat finished 
out of the timber that struck on the sands ; yet considering 
their work would be long, they began to cultivate some pieces 
of ground : here they sowed French beans, which ripened in 
six weeks, and many other fruits. They had good provision 
of Spanish wheat, bananas, racoven, and other things; with 
the wheat they made bread, and baked it in portable ovens, 
brought with them. Thus they feared not hunger in those 
desert places, employing themselves thus for five or six months ; 
which past, and the long-boat finished, they resolved for the 
River of Nicaragua, to see if they could take some canoes, and 
return to the said islands for their companions that remained 
behind, by reason the boat could not hold so many men togeth- 
er. Hereupon, to avoid disputes, they cast lots, determining 
who should go or stay. 

The lot fell on one half of the people of the lost vessel, who 
embarked in the long-boat and on the skiff which they had 
before, the other half remaining ashore. Lolonois having set 
sail, arrived in few days at the River of Nicaragua. Here that 
ill fortune assailed him which of long time had been reserved 
for him, as a punishment due to the multitude of horrible crimes 
committed in his licentious and wicked life. Here he met with 
both Spaniards and Indians, Avho jointly setting upon him and 
his companions, the greatest part of the- pirates were killed on 
the place. Lolonois, with those that remained alive, had much 
ado to escape aboard their boats; yet, notwithstanding this great 
loss, he resolved not to return to those he had left at the Isle of 
Pertas, without taking some boats, such as he looked for. To 
this effect he determined to go on to the. coasts of Carthagena ; 
but God Almighty, the time of his divine justice being now 
come, had appointed the Indians of Darien to be the instruments 
and executioners thereof. These Indians of Darien are esteemed 
as bravoes, or wild savage Indians, by the neighboring Spaniards, 
who never could civilize them. Hither Lolonois came (brought 
by his evil conscience, that cried for punishment) thinking to 



88 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

act his cruelties; but the Indians within a few days after his 
arrival took him prisoner, and tore him in pieces alive, throw- 
ing his body limb by limb into the fire, and his ashes into the 
air, that no trace or memory might remain of such an infamous, 
inhuman creature. One of his companions gave me an exact 
account of this tragedy, affirming, that himself had escaped the 
same punishment with the greatest difficulty; he believed also 
that many of his comrades, who were taken in that renconter 
by those Indians, were, as their cruel captain, torn in pieces 
and burnt alive. Thus ends the history, the life, and misera- 
ble death of that infernal wretch Lolonois, who, full of horrid, 
execrable, and enormous deeds, and debtor to so much innocent 
blood, died by cruel and butcherly hands, such as his own 
were in the coarse of his life. 

Those that remained in the Island De las Pertas, waiting for 
the return of them who got away only to their great misfor- 
tune, hearing no news of their captain nor companions, at last 
embarked on the ship of a certain pirate, who happened to pass 
that way. This fellow came from Jamaica, with intent to land 
at Gracias a Dios, and from thence to enter the river with his 
canoes, and take the city of Carthagena. These two crews of 
pirates being now joined, were infinitely glad at the presence 
and society of one another. Those, because they found them- 
selves delivered from the miseries, poverty, and necessities 
wherein they had lived ten entire months; — these, because 
they were now considerably strengthened, to effect with greater 
satisfaction their designs. Hereupon, as soon as they were ar- 
rived at Gracias a Dios, they all put themselves into canoes, 
and entered the river, being five hundred men, leaving only five 
or six persons in each ship to keep them. They took no pro- 
visions, being persuaded they should find every where sufficient ; 
but these their hopes were found totally vain, not being ground- 
ed on Almighty God"; for he ordained it so, that the Indians, 
aware of their coming, all fled, not leaving in their houses or 
plantations, which for the most part border on the sides of riv- 
ers,, any necessary provisions or victuals. Hereby, in a few 
days after they had quitted the ships, they were reduced to most 
extreme necessity and hunger; but their hopes of making their 
fortunes very soon animating them for the present, they con- 
tented themselves with a few green herbs, such as they could 
gather on the banks of the river. 

Yet all this courage and vigor lasted but a fortnight, when 
their hearts, as well as bodies, began to fail for hunger; inso- 
much as they were forced to quit the river, and betake them- 
selves to the woods, seeking out some villages where they 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 89 

might find relief, but all in vain ; for having ranged up and 
down the woods for some days, without finding the least com- 
fort, they were forced to return to the river, where being come, 
they thought convenient to descend to the sea-coast where they 
had left their ships, not having been able to find w,hat they 
sought 'for. In this laborious journey they were reduced to 
such extremity, that many of them devoured their own shoes, 
the sheaths 6f their swords, knives, and other such things, being 
almost ravenous, and eager to meet some Indians, intending to 
sacrifice them to their teeth. At last they arrived at the sea- 
coast, where they found some comfort and relief to their fo ri- 
mer miseries, and also means to seek more ; yet the greatest 
part perished through faintuessand other diseases contracted by 
hunger, which also caused the remaining part to disperse, till 
at last, by degrees, many or most of them fell into the same pit 
that Lolonois did : of whom, and of whose companions, having 
given a compendious narrative, I shall continue with the actions 
and exploits of Capt. Henry Morgan, who may deservedly be 
called the second Lolonois, not being unlike or inferior to him, 
either in achievements against the Spaniards, or in robberies of 
many innocent people. 



CHAPTER XI 

The Origin and Descent of Captain Henry Morgan ; his Exploits, and the most 
remarkable Actions of his Life. 

Capt. Henry Morgan was bora in Great Britain, in the prin- 
cipality of Wales ; his father was a rich yeoman, or farmer, of 
good quality, even as most who bear that name in Wales 
are known to be. Morgan, when young, had no inclination 
to the calling of his father, and therefore left his country, 
and came towards the sea-coasts to seek some other employ- 
ment more suitable to his aspiring humor ; where he found 
several ships at anchor, bound to Barbadoes. With these he 
resolved to go in the service of one, who, according to the prac- 
tice of those parts, sold h,im as soon as he came ashore. He 
served his time at Barbadoes, and obtaining his liberty, betook 
himself to Jamaica, there to seek new fortunes. Here he found 
two vessels of pirates ready to go to sea ; and being destitute of 
employment, he went with them, with intent to follow the 
exercises of that sort of people. 'He soon learned their manner 
of living, so exactly, that having performed three or four" voya- 
8 * 



90 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




Sir Henry Morgan. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 91 

ges with profit and success, he agreed with some of his comrades, 
who had got by the same voyages a little money, to join stocks 
and buy a ship. The vessel being bought, they unanimously 
chose him captain and commander. 

With this ship he set forth from Jamaica to cruise on the 
coasts of Campeachy, in which voyage he took several ships, 
with which he returned triumphant. Here he found an old 
pirate, named Mansvelt, (whom we have already mentioned,) 
busied in equipping a considerable fleet, with design to land on 
the continent, and pillage whatever he could. Mansvelt see- 
ing Capt. Morgan return with so many prizes, judged him to be 
a man of courage, and chose him for his vice-admiral in that 
expedition. Thus having fitted out fifteen ships, great and 
small, they sailed from Jamaica with 500 men, Walloons and 
French. This fleet arrived not long after at the Isle of St. 
Catherine, near the continent of Costa Rica, latitude 12° 30', 
and distant 35 leagues from the river Chagre. Here they made 
their first descent, landing most of their men, who soon forced 
the garrison that kept the island to surrender all the forts and 
castles thereof; which they instantly demolished, except one, 
wherein they placed one hundred men of their own party, and 
all the slaves they had taken from the Spaniards ; with the rest 
of their men they marched to another small island, so near St. 
Catherine's, that, with a bridge they made in a few days, they 
passed thither, taking with them all the ordnance they had 
taken on the great island. Having ruined with fire and sword 
both the islands, leaving necessary orders at the said castle, 
they put to sea again with their Spanish prisoners ; yet these 
they set ashore not long after, on the Firm Land, near Puerto 
Velo. Then they cruised on Costa Rica, till they came to the 
river Colla, designing to pillage all the towns in those parts, 
thence to pass to the village of Nata, to do the same. 

The governor of Panama, on advice of their arrival, and of 
the hostilities they committed, thought it his duty to meet 
them with a body of men. His coming caused the pirates to 
retire suddenly, seeing the whole country was alarmed, and 
that their designs were known, and consequently defeated at 
that time - . Hereupon, they returned to St. Catherine's, to visit 
the hundred men they had left in garrison there. The gover- 
nor of these men was a Frenchman, named Le Sieur Simon, 
who behaved himself very well in that charge, while Mansvelt 
was absent, having put the great island in a very good posture 
of defence, and the little one he had caused to be cultivated 
with many fertile plantations, sufficient to revictual the whole 
fleet, not only for the present, but also for a new voyage. 



92 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Mansvelt was very much bent to keep these two islands in per. 
petual possession, being very commodiously situated for the 
pirates;, being so near the Spanish dominions, and easily de- 
fended, as I shall represent in the third part of this history at 
large, in a copper plate. 

Hereupon, Mansvelt determined to return to Jamaica, to send 
recruits to St. Catherine's, that in case of an invasion the pirates 
might be provided for a defence. As soon as he arrived, he 
propounded his intentions to the governor there, who rejected 
his propositions, fearing to displease his master, the king of 
England ; besides that, giving him the men he desired, and 
necessaries, he must of necessity diminish the forces of that 
island, whereof he wa§ governor. Hereupon, Mansvelt, know- 
ing that of himself he could not compass his designs, went 
to Tortuga ; but there, before he could put in execution what 
was. intended, death surprised him, and put a period to his 
wicked life, leaving all things in suspense till the occasion 1 
shall hereafter relate. 

Le Sieur Simon, governor of St. Catherine's, receiving no 
news from Mansvelt, his admiral, was impatiently desirous to 
know the cause thereof. Meanwhile, Don John Perez de 
Guzman, being newly come to the government of Costa Rica, 
thought it not convenient for the interest of Spain for that island 
to be in the hands of the pirates. Hereupon, he equipped a 
considerable fleet, which he sent to retake it ; but before he 
used violence, he wrote a letter toLe Sieur Simon, telling him, 
that if he would surrender the island to his Catholic majesty, he 
should be very well rewarded ; but in case of refusal severely 
punished, when he had forced him to do it. Le Sieur Simon, 
seeing no probability of being able to defend it alone, nor any 
emolument that by so doing could accrue either to him or his 
people, after some small 'resistance delivered it up to its true 
lord and master, under the same articles they had obtained it 
from the Spaniards ; a few days after which surrender there 
arrived from Jamaica an English ship, which the governor there 
had sent under-hand, with a good supply of people, both men 
and women. The Spaniards from the castle having espied this 
ship, put forth English colors, and pursuaded Le Sieur Simon 
to go aboard, and conduct the ship into a port they assigned 
him. This he performed, and they were all made prisoners. 
A certain Spanish engineer has published in print an exact 
relation of the retaking of this isle by the Spaniards, which I 
have thought fit to insert here. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 93 

A true relation and particular account of the Victory obtai?ied 
by the arms of his Catholic Majesty against the English 
Pirates, by the direction and valor of Don John Perez de 
Guzman, Knight of the Order of St. James, Governor 
and Captain- General of Terra Firma and the Province of 
Veraguas. 

The kingdom of Terra Firma, which of itself is sufficiently 
strong to repel and destroy great fleets, especially the pirates of 
Jamaica, had several ways notice imparted to the governor 
thereof, that fourteen English vessels cruised on the coasts be- 
longing to his Catholic majesty. July 14, 1665, news came 
to Panama that they were arrived at Puerto de Naos, and had 
forced the Spanish garrison of the Isle of St. Catherine, whose 
governor was Don Esteven del Campo,* and possessed them- 
selves of the said island, taking prisoners the inhabitants, and 
destroying all that they met. About the same time, Don John 
Perez de Guzman received particular information of these rob- 
beries from some Spaniards who escaped out of the island, (and 
whom he ordered to be conveyed to Puerto Velo) that the said 
pirates came into the island May 2, by night, without being 
perceived ; and that the next day, after some skirmishes, they 
took the fortresses, and made prisoners all the inhabitants and 
soldiers that could not escape. Upon this, Don John called a 
council of war, wherein he declared the great progress the said 
pirates had made in the dominions of his Catholic majesty, and 
propounded, " that it was absolutely necessary to send some 
force to the isles of St. Catherine, sufficient to retake it from 
the pirates, the honor and interest of his majesty of Spain being 
very narrowly concerned herein ; otherwise the pirates by such . 
conquests might easily, in course of time, possess themselves of all 
the countries thereabouts." To this some made answer, "that 
the pirates, not being able to subsist in the said island, would of 
necessity consume and waste themselves, and be forced to quit it, 
without any necessity of retaking it: that consequently it was not 
worth the while to engage in so many expenses and troubles as 
this would cost." Notwithstanding which, Don John being an 
expert and valiant soldier, ordered that provisions should be con- 
veyed to Puerto Velo for the use of the militia, and transported 
himself thither, with no small danger of his life. Here he arrived 
July 2, with most things necessary to the expedition in hand, 
where he found in the port a good ship, and well mounted, called 
the St. Vincent, that belonged to the company of the negroes, 
which he manned and victualled very well, and sent to the Isle of 
St. Catherine, constituting Capt. Joseph Sanchez Ximenez, ma. 



94 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

jor of Puerto Yelo, commander thereof. He carried with him 
two hundred and seventy soldiers, and thirty-seven prisoners of 
the same island, beside thirty-four Spaniards of the garrison of 
Puerto Yelo, twenty-nine mulattoes of Panama, twelve Indians, 
very dextrous at shooting with bows and arrows, seven ex- 
pert and able gunners, two lieutenants, two pilots, one surgeon, 
and one religious, of the order of St. Francis, for their chaplain. 

Don John soon after gave orders to all the officers how to 
behave themselves, telling them that the governor of Cartha- 
gena would supply them with more men, boats, and all things 
else, necessary for that enterprise, to which effect he had already 
written to the said governor. July 24, Don John setting sail 
with a fair wind, he called before him all his people, and made 
them a speech, encouraging them to fight against the enemies 
of their country and Religion, and especially against those in- 
human pirates, who had committed so many horrid cruelties 
upon the subjects of his Catholic majesty ; withal, promising 
every one most liberal rewards, especially to such as should 
behave themselves well in the service of their king and country. 
Thus Don John bid them farewell, and the ship set sail under 
a favorable gale. The 22d they arrived at Carthagena, and 
presented a letter to the governor thereof from the noble and 
valiant Don John, who received it with testimonies of great 
affection to the person of Don John, and his majesty's service. 
And seeing their resolution to be conformable to his desires, 
he promised them his assistance, with one frjgate, one galleon, 
one boat, and one hundred and twenty-six men ; one half out 
of his own garrison, and the other half mulattoes. Thus being 
well provided with necessaries, they left the port of Carthagena 
August 2, and the 10th they arrived insight of St. Catherine's, 
towards the western point thereof; and though the wind was 
contrary, yet they reached the port, and anchored within it, 
having lost one of their boats by foul weather, at the rock 
called duita Signos. 

The pirates, seeing our ships come to an anchor, gave them 
presently three guns with bullets, which were soon answered 
in the same coin. Hereupon, Major Joseph Sanchez Ximenez 
sent ashore to the pirates one of his officers, to require them, in 
the name of the Catholic king his master, to surrender the 
island, seeing they had taken it in the midst of peace between 
the two crowns of Spain and England ; and that if they would 
be obstinate, he would certainly put them all to the sword. 
The pirates made answer, that the island had once before be- 
longed unto the government and dominions of the king of 
England, and that, instead of surrendering it, they preferred to 
lose their lives. 



t 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 95 

On Friday the 13th three negroes, from the enemy, came 
swimming aboard our admiral ; these brought intelligence that 
all the pirates upon the island were only seventy-two in number, 
and that they were under a great consternation, seeing such con- 
siderable forces come against them. With this intelligence, the 
Spaniards resolved to land, and advance towards the fortresses, 
which ceased not to fire as many great guns against them as 
they possibly could ; which were answered in the same manner 
on our side, till dark night. On Sunday the 15th, the day of the 
assumption of our Lady, the weather being very calm and clear, 
the Spaniards began to advance thus : the ship St. Vincent, 
riding admiral, discharged two whole broadsides on the battery 
called the Conception ; the ship St. Peter, that was vice-admiral, 
discharged likewise her guns against the other battery named 
St. James. Meanwhile, our people landed in small boats, di- 
recting their course towards the point of the battery last men- 
tioned, and thence they marched towards the gate called Cor- 
tadura. Lieutenant Francis de Cazeres, being desirous to view 
the strength of the enemy, with only fifteen men, was com- 
pelled to retreat in haste, by reason of the great guns, which 
played so furiously on the place where he stood ; they shooting, 
not only pieces of iron, and small bullets, but also the organs of 
the church, discharging in every shot three score pipes at a time. 

Notwithstanding this heat of the enemy, Captain Don Joseph 
Ramirez de Leyva, with sixty men, made a strong attack, 
wherein they fought on both sidesvery desperately, till at last 
he overcame, and forced the pirates to surrender the fort. 

On the other side, Captain John Galeno, with ninety men, 
passed over the hills, to advance that way towards the castle 
of St. Teresa. Meanwhile Major Don Joseph Sanchez Xim- 
enes, as commander-in-chief, with the rest of his men, set forth 
from the battery of St. James, passing the port with four boats, 
and landing in despite of the enemy. About this same time, 
Captain John Galeno began to advance with the men he led to 
the fore-mentioned fortress; so that our men made three attacks 
on three several sides, at one and the same time, with great cour- 
age ; till the, pirates seeing many of their men already killed, 
and that they could in no manner subsist any longer, retreat- 
ed towards Cortadura, where they surrendered themselves, and 
the whole island, into our hands. Our people possessed them- 
selves of ail, and set up the Spanish colors, as soon as they had 
rendered thanks to God Almighty for the victory obtained on 
such a signalized day. The number of dead, were six men of 
the enemy's, with many wounded, and seventy prisoners. On 
our side was only one man- killed, and four wounded. 



96 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

There were found on the island eight hundred pounds of 
powder, two hundred and fifty pounds of small bullets, with 
many other military provisions. Among the prisoners were 
taken also two Spaniards, who had bore arms under the Eng- 
lish against his Catholic majesty. These were shot to death 
the next day, by order of the major. The 10th day of Sep- 
tember arrived at the isle an English vessel, which being seen 
at a great distance by the major, he ordered Le Sieur Simon, 
who was a Frenchman, to go and visit the said ship, and tell 
them that were on board, that the island belonged still to the 
English. He performed the command, and found in the said 
ship only fourteen men, one woman and her daughter, who 
were all instantly made prisoners. 

The English pirates were all transported to Puerto Velo, ex- 
cepting three, who by order of the governor were carried to 
Panama, there to work in the castle of St. Jerom. This for- 
tification is an excellent piece of workmanship, and very strong, 
being raised in the middle of the port, of a quadrangular form, 
and of very hard stone ; its height is eighty-eight geometri- 
cal feet, the wall being fourteen, and the curtains seventy- 
five feet diameter. It was built at the expense of several pri- 
vate persons, the governor of the city furnishing the greatest 
part of the money, so that it cost his majesty nothing. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Of the Island of Cuba. — Captain Morgan attempts to preserve the Isle of St. 
Catherine as a refuge to the nest of Pirates, but fails of his design. — He 
arrives at, and takes the Village of, El Puerto del Principe. 

Capt. Morgan seeing his predecessor and Admiral Mansvelt 
were dead, used all the means that were possible to keep in 
possession the Isle of St. Catherine, seated near Cuba. His 
chief intent was to make it a refuge and sanctuary to the pi- 
rates of those parts, putting it in a condition of being a conve- 
nient receptacle of their preys and robberies. To this effect he 
left no stone unmoved, writing to several merchants in Virginia 
and New England, persuading them to send'him provisions and 
necessaries, towards putting the said island in such a posture of 
defence, as to fear no danger of invasion from any side. But 
all this proved ineffectual, by the Spaniards retaking the said 
island • yet Captain Morgan retained his courage, which put 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 97 

him on new designs. First, he equipped a ship, in order to 
gather a fleet as great and as strong as he could. By degrees 
he effected it, and gave orders to every member of his fleet to 
meet at a certain port of Cuba, there determined to call a coun- 
cil, and deliberate what was best to be done, and what place 
first to fall upon. Leaving these preparations in this condition, 
I shall give my reader some small account of the said Isle of 
Cuba, in whose port this expedition was hatched, seeing I omit' 
ted to do it in its proper place. 

Cuba lies from east to west, in north latitude, from twenty 
to twenty-three degrees,* in length, one hundred and fifty Ger- 
man leagues, and about forty in breadth. Its fertility is equal 
to that of Hispaniola ; besides which, it affords many things 
proper for trading and commerce ; such as hides of several 
beasts, particularly those that in Europe are called hides of 
Havana. On all sides it is surrounded with many small islands, 
called the Cayos : these little islands the pirates use as ports of 
refuge. Here they have their meetings, and hold their coun- 
cils, how best to assault the Spaniards. It is watered on all 
sides with plentiful and pleasant rivers, whose entries form both 
secure and spacious ports ; beside many other harbors for ships, 
which along the calm shores and coasts adorn this rich and 
beautiful island ,* all which contribute much to its happiness, 
by facilitating trade, whereto they invited both natives and 
aliens. The chief of these ports are San Jago, Byame, Santa 
Maria, Espiritu Santo, Trinidad, Zagoa, Cabo de Corientes, and 
others, on the south side of the island. On the north side are, La 
Havana, Puerto Mariano, Santa Cruz, Mata Ricos, and Barracoa. 

This island hath two chief cities, to which all the towns and 
villages thereof give obedience. The first is Santa Jago, or 
St. James, seated on the south side, and having under its juris- 
diction one half of the island. The chief magistrates hereof 
are a bishop and a governor, who command the villages and 
towns of the said half. The chief of these are, on the south 
side, Espiritu Santo, Puerto del Principe, and Bayanie. On 
the north it has Barracoa, and De los Cayos. The greatest part 
of the commerce driven here comes from the Canaries, whither 
they transport much tobacco, sugar, and hides, which sort of 
merchandise are drawn to the head city from the subordinate 
towns and villages. Formerly this city of Santa Jago was mis- 
erably sacked by the pirates of Jamaica and-Tortuga, though it 
is defended by a considerable castle. 

The city and port De la Havana lies between the north and 
west side of the island. This is one of the strongest places of 
:he West Indies ; its jurisdiction extends over the other half of 
9 



98 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

the island ; the chief places under it being Santa Cruz on the 
north side, and La Trinidad on the south. Hence is transported 
huge quantities of tobacco, which is sent to New Spain and 
Costa Rica, even as far as the South Sea, besides many ships 
laden with this commodity that are consigned to Spain and 
other parts of Europe, not only in the leaf but in rolls. This 
city is defended by three castles, very great and strong ; two of 
which lie towards the port, and the other is seated on a hill that 
commands the town. It is esteemed to contain about ten thou- 
sand families. The merchants of this place trade in New Spain, 
Campeachy, Honduras, and Florida. All ships that come from 
the parts before mentioned, as also from Caraccas, Carthagen;;, 
and Costa Rica, are necessitated to take their provisions in at 
Havana, to make their voyage for Spain ; this being the neces- 
sary and straight course they must steer for the south of Eu- 
rope, and other parts. The plate-fleet of Spain, which the 
Spaniards call Jlota, being homeward bound, touches here 
yearly to complete their cargo with hides, tobacco, and Cam- 
peachy wood. 

Captain Morgan had been but two months in these ports of 
the south of Cuba, when he had got together a fleet of twelve 
sail, between ships and great boats, with seven hundred fight- 
ing men, part English and part French. They called a council, 
and some advised to assault the city of Havana in the night, 
which they said might easily be done, if they could but take 
any few of the ecclesiastics; yea, that the city might be 
sacked before the castles could put themselves in a posture of 
defence. Others propounded, according to their several opin- 
ions, other attempts; but the former proposal was rejected, be- 
cause many of the pirates, who had been prisoners at other 
times in the said city, affirmed nothing of consequence could 
be done with less than fifteen hundred men. Moreover, that 
with all these people, they ought first to go to the Island De 
los Pinos, and land them in small boats about Matamona, four- 
teen leagues from the said city, whereby to accomplish their 
designs. 

Finally, they saw no possibility of gathering so great a fleet, 
and hereupon, with what they had, they concluded to attempt 
some other place. Among the rest, one propounded they should 
assault the town of El Puerto del T.incipe. This proposition 
he persuaded to, by saying he knew that place very well, and 
that being at a distance from sea, it never was sacked by any 
pirates, whereby the inhabitants were rich, exercising their 
trade by ready money, with those of Havana, who kept here 
an established commerce, chiefly in hides. This proposal was 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 99 

presently admitted by Captain Morgan and the chief of his 
companions. Hereupon they ordered every captain to weigh 
anchor and set sail, steering towards that coast nearest to El 
Puerto del Principe. Here is a bay, named by the Spaniards 
El Puerto de Santa Maria. Being arrived at this bay, a Span- 
iard, who was prisoner aboard the fleet, swam ashore by 
night to the town of El Puerto del Principe, giving an account 
to the inhabitants of the design of the pirates, which he over- 
heard in their discourse, while they thought he did not under- 
stand English. The Spaniards upon this advice began to hide 
their riches, and carry away their movables; the governor im- 
mediately raised all the people of the town, freemen and slaves, 
and with part of them took a post by which of necessity the 
pirates must pass, and commanded many trees to be cut down 
and laid cross the ways to hinder their passage, placing several 
ambuscades strengthened with some pieces of cannon to play 
upon them on their march. He gathered in all about eight 
hundred men, of which detaching part into the said ambus- 
cades, with the rest he begirt the town, drawing them up in a 
spacious field, whence they could see the coming of the pirates 
at lengths 

Captain Morgan with his men, now on the march, found the 
avenues to the town impassable ; hereupon they took their way 
through the wood, traversing it with great difficulty, whereby 
they escaped divers ambuscades ; at last they came to the plain, 
from its figure, called by the Spaniards La Savanna, or the 
Sheet. The governor seeing them come, detached a troop of 
horse to charge them in the front, thinking to disperse them, 
and to pursue them with his main body; but this design suc- 
ceeded not, for the pirates marched in very good order, at the 
sound of their drums, and with flying colors : coming near the 
horse they drew into a semicircle, and so advanced towards 
the Spaniards, who charged them valiantly for a while; but 
the pirates being very dexterous at their arms, and their gov- 
ernor, with .many of their companions, being killed, they 
retreated towards the wood, to save themselves with more ad- 
vantage ; but, before they could reach it, most of them were 
unfortunately killed by the pirates. Thus they left the victory 
to these new-come enemies, who had no considerable loss of 
men in the battle, and but very few wounded. The skirmish 
lasted four hours. They entered the town not without great 
resistance of such as were within, who defended themselves as 
long as possible, and many seeing the enemy in the town, shut 
themselves up in their own houses, and thence made several 
shots upon the pirates ; who thereupon threatened them, say- 



100 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ing, "If you surrender not voluntarily, you shall soon see the 
town in a flame, and your wives and children torn in pieces 
before yotfr faces." Upon these menaces the Spaniards sub- 
mitted to the discretion of the pirates, believing they could not 
continue there long. 

As soon as the pirates had possessed themselves of the town, 
they enclosed all the Spaniards, men, women, children, and 
slaves, in several churches, and pillaged all the goods they could 
find ; then they searched the country round about, bringing in 
daily many goods and prisoners, with much provision. With 
this they fell to making great cheer, after their old custom, 
without remembering the poor prisoners, whom they let starve 
in the churches, though they tormented them daily and inhu- 
manly to make them confess where they had hid their goods, 
money, &,c, though little or nothing was left them, not sparing 
the women and little children, giving them nothing to eat, 
whereby the greatest part perished. 

Pillage and provisions growing scarce, they thought conve- 
nient to depart and seek new fortunes in other places. They told 
the prisoners, " they should find money to ransom themselves, 
else they should be all transported to Jamaica; and beside, if 
they did not pay a second ransom for the town, they would 
turn every house in ashes." The Spaniards hereupon nomi- 
nated among themselves four fellow-prisoners to go and seek for 
the above-mentioned contributions; but the pirates, to the in- 
tent they should return speedily with those ransoms, tormented 
several cruelly in their presence, before they departed. After a 
few days, the Spaniards returned, telling Captain Morgan, "We 
have ran up and down, and searched all the neighboring woods 
and places wc most suspected, and yet have not been able to 
find any of our own party, nor consequently any fruit of our 
embassy ; but if you are pleased to have a little longer patience 
with us, we shall certainly cause all that you demand to^be 
paid within fifteen days;" which Captain Morgan granted. 
But not long after, there came into the town seven or eight 
pirates who had been ranging in the woods and fields, and got 
considerable booty. These brought, amongst other prisoners, 
a negro whom they had taken with letters. Captain Morgan 
having perused them, found they were from the governor of 
Santa Jago, being written to some of the prisoners, wherein he 
told them, " they should not make too 'much haste to pay any 
ransom for their town or persons, or any other pretext; but, on 
the contrary, they should put off the pirates as well as they 
could with excuses and delays, expecting to be relieved by him 
in a short time, when he would certainly come to their aid. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 101 

Upon this intelligence Captain Morgan immediately ordered al 1 
their plunder to be carried aboard ; and withal, he told the 
Spaniards, that the very next day they should pay their ran- 
soms, for he would not wait a moment longer, but reduce the 
whole town to ashes, if they failed of the sum he demanded. 

With this intimation, Captain Morgan made no mention to 
the Spaniards ofthe letters he had intercepted. They answered, 
"that it was impossible for them to give such a sum of money 
in so short a space of time, seeing their fellow-townsmen were 
not to be found in all the country thereabouts." Captain Mor- 
gan knew full well their intentions, but thought it not conve- 
nient to stay there any longer, demanding of them only five 
hundred oxen or cows, with sufficient salt to powder them, 
with this condition, that they should carry them on board his 
ships. Thus he departed with all his men, taking with him 
only six of the principal prisoners as pledges. Next day the 
Spaniards brought the cattle and salt to the ships, and required 
the prisoners; but Captain Morgan refused to deliver them, till 
they had helped his men to kill and salt the beeves. This was 
performed in great haste, he not caring to stay there any longer, 
lest he should be surprised by the forces that were gathering 
against him ; and having received all on board his vessels, he 
set at liberty the hostages. Meanwhile there happened some 
dissensions between the English and the French. The occa- 
sion was as follows : a Frenchman being employed in killing 
and salting the beeves, an En'glish pirate took away the marrow- 
bones, he had taken out of the ox, which these people esteem 
much ; hereupon they 'challenged one another. Being come 
to the place of duel, the Englishman stabbed the Frenchman 
in the back, whereby he fell down dead. The other French- 
men, desirous of revenge, made an insurrection against the Eng- 
lish ; but Captain Morgan soon appeased them, by putting the 
criminal in chains to be carried to Jamaica, promising he would 
see justice done upon him ; for though he might challenge 
his adversary, yet it was not. lawful to kill him treacherously, 
as he did. 

All things being ready, and on board, and the prisoners set 
at liberty, they sailed thence to a certain island, where Captain 
Morgan intended to make a dividend of what they had pur- 
chased in that voyage; where, being arrived, they found nigh 
the value of fifty thousand pieces of eight in money and goods. 
The sum being known, it caused a general grief to see such a 
small purchase, not sufficient to pay their debts at Jamaica. 
Hereupon Captain Morgan proposed they should think on some 
other enterprise and pillage before they returned. But the 
9* 



102 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

French not being able to agree with the English, left Captain 
Morgan with those of his own nation, notwithstanding all the 
persuasions he used to induce them to continue in his company. 
Thus they parted with all external signs of friendship, Captain 
Morgan reiterating his promises to them, that he would see 
justice done on that criminal. This he performed, for being 
arrived at Jamaica, he caused him to be hanged, which was all 
the satisfaction the French pirates could expect. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Captain Morgan, resolving to Attack and Plunder the City of Puerto Bello, 
Equips a Fleet, and with little Expense and small Forces take it. 

Some may think that the French, having deserted Captain 
Morgan, the English alone could not have sufficient courage 
to attempt such great actions as before. But Captain Morgan, 
who always communicated vigor with his words, infused such 
spirit into his men, as put them instantly upon new designs; 
they being all persuaded that the sole execution of his orders 
would be a certain means of obtaining great riches, which so 
influenced their minds, that with inimitable courage they all 
resolved to follow him, as did also a certain pirate of Cam peachy, 
who on this occasion joined with Captain Morgan, to seek new 
fortunes under his conduct. Thus Captain Morgan in a few 
days gathered a fleet of nine sail, either ships or great boats, 
wherein he had four hundred and sixty military men. 

All things being ready, they put forth to sea, Captain Mor- 
gan imparting his design to nobody at present; he only told 
them on several occasions that he doubted not to make a good 
fortune by that voyage, if strange occurrences happened not. 
They steered towards the continent, where they arrived in a 
few days near Costa Rica, all their fleet safe. No sooner had 
they discovered land, but Captain Morgan declared his inten- 
tions to the captains, and presently after to the company. He 
told them he intended to plunder Puerto Bello by night, being 
resolved to put the whole city to the sack. And to encourage 
them, he added, " this enterprise could not fail, seeing he had 
kept it secret, without revealing it to any body, whereby they 
could not have notice of his coming." To this proposition 
Borne answered, " they had not a sufficient number of men tc 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 103 

assault so strong and great a city." But Captain Morgan re- 
plied, "If our number is small, our hearts are great; and the 
fewer persons we are, the more union and better shares we 
shall have in the spoil." Hereupon, being stimulated with the 
hope of those vast riches they promised themselves from their 
success, they unanimously agreed to that design. Now, that 
my reader may better comprehend the boldness Qf his exploits, 
it may be necessary to say something beforehand of the city of 
Puerto Bello. 

This city is in the province of Costa Rica, ten degrees north 
latitude, fourteen leagues from the Gulf of Darien, and eight 
westward from the ports called Nombre de Dios. It is judged 
the strongest place the king of Spain possesses in all the 
West Indies, except Havana an'd Carthagena. Here are two 
castles almost impregnable., that defend the city, situate at the 
entry of the port, so that no ship or boat can pass without per- 
mission. The garrison consists of three hundred soldiers, and 
the town is inhabited by about four hundred families. The 
merchants dwell not here, but only reside a while, when the 
galleons come from or go for Spain, by reason of the unhealth- 
iness of the air, occasioned by vapors from the mountains ; so 
that though their chief warehouses are at Puerto Bello, their 
habitations are at Panama, whence they bring the plate upon 
mules, when the fair begins, and when the ships belonging to 
the company of negroes arrive to sell slaves. 

Captain Morgan, who knew very well all the avenues of this 
city and the neighboring coasts, arrived in the dusk of the 
evening at Puerto de Naos, ten leagues to the west of Puerto 
Bello. Being come hither they sailed up the river to another 
harbor called Puerto Pontin, where they anchored. Here they 
put thremselves into boats and canoes, leaving in the ships only 
a few men to bring them next day to the port. About mid- 
night they came to a place called Estera longa Lemos, where 
they all went on shore, and, marched by land to the first post 
of the city. They had in their company an Englishman, for- 
merly a prisoner in those parts, who now served them-fo v <\ 
guide. To him and three or four more they gave commission 
to take the sentinel if possible, or kill him on the place ; but 
they seized him so cunningly, as he had no time to give warn- 
ing with his musket, or make any noise, and brought him with 
his hands bound to Captain Morgan, who asked him how things 
went in the city, and what forces they had, with other cir- 
cumstances he desired to know. After every question, they 
made him a thousand menaces to kill him, if he declared not 
the truth. Then they advanced to the city, carrying the sasd 



104 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

sentinel bound before them : having marched about a quarter 
of a league, they came to the castle near the cily, which pres- 
ently they closely surrounded, so that no person could geteithei 
in or out. 

Being posted under the walls of the castle, Captain Morgan 
commanded the sentinel, whom they had taken prisoner, to 
speak to those within, charging them to surrender to his dis- 
cretion ; otherwise they should be all cut in pieces, without 
quarter. But they regarding none of these threats, began in- 
stantly to fire, which alarmed the city ; yet notwithstanding, 
though the governor and soldiers of the said castle made as great 
resistance as could be, they were forced to surrender. Having 
taken the castle, they resolved to be as good as their words, 
putting the Spaniards to the sword, thereby to strike a terror into 
the rest of the city. Whereupon, having shut up all the soldiers 
and officers as prisoners into one room, they set fire to the 
powder, (whereof they found a great quantity,) and blew up the 
castle into the air, with ail the Spaniards that were within. 
This done, they pursued the course of their victory, falling up- 
on the city, which, as yet, was not ready to receive them. 
Many of the inhabitants cast their precious jewels and money 
into wells and cisterns, or hid them in places under ground, to 
avoid, as much as possible, being totally robbed. One party of 
the pirates^ assigned to this purpose, ran immediately to the clois- 
ters, and took as many religious men and women as they could 
find. The governor of the city, not being able to rally the cit- 
izens, through their great confusion, retired to one of the castles 
remaining, and thence fired incessantly at the pirates ; but these 
were not in the least negligent either to assault him, or defend 
themselves ; so that amidst the horror of the assault they made 
very few shots in vain ; for aiming with great dexterity at the 
mouths of the guns, the Spaniards were certain to lose one or 
two men every time they charged each gun anew. 

This continued very furious from break of day till noon ; 
yea, about this time of the day the case was very dubious which 
party should conquer, or be conquered. At last, the pirates 
perceiving they had lost many men, and yet advanced but little 
towards the gaining either this or the other castles, made use 
of fire-balls, which they threw with their hands, designing to 
burn the doors of the castle : but the Spaniards from the walls 
let fall great quantities of stones, and earthen pots full of pow- 
der, and other combustible matter, which forced them to desist. 
Captain Morgan seeing this generous defence made by the 
Spaniards, began to, despair of success. Hereupon, many faint 
ahd calm mediations came into his mind; neither could he 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 105 

determine which way to turn himself in that strait. Being 
thus puzzled, he was suddenly animated to continue the as- 
sault, by seeing English colors put forth by one of the lesser 
castles, then entered by hi.s men ; of whom he presently after 
spied a troop coming to meet him, proclaiming victory with 
loud shouts of joy. This instantly put him on new resolutions 
of taking the rest of the castles, especially seeing the chiefest 
citizens had fled to them, and had conveyed thither great part 
of their riches, with all the plate belonging to the churches and 
divine service. 

To this effect, he ordered ten or twelve ladders to be made 
in all haste, so broad, that three or four men at once might as- 
cend them : these being finished, he commanded all the reli- 
gious men and women, whom he had faken prisoners, to fix them 
against the walls of the castle. This he had before threatened 
the governor to do, if he .delivered not the castle ; but his 
answer was, "he would never surrender himself alive." Cap- 
tain Morgan was persuaded the governor would not employ his 
utmost force, seeing the religious women, and ecclesiastical 
persons, exposed in front of the soldiers to the greatest danger. 
Thus the ladders, as I have said, were put into the hands of re- 
ligious persons of both sexes, and these were forced, at the head 
of the companies, to raise and apply them to the walls ; but 
Captain Morgan was fully deceived in his judgment of this de- 
sign ; for the governor, who acted like a brave soldier in per- 
formance of his duty, used his utmost endeavors to destroy 
whosoever came near the walls. The religious men and women 
ceased not to cry to him, and beg of him by all the saints of 
heaven to deliver the castle, and spare both his and their own 
lives ; but nothing could prevail with his obstinacy and fierce- 
ness. Thus many of the religious men and nuns were killed 
before they could fix the ladders ; which, at last, being done, 
though with great loss of the said religious people, the pirates 
mounted them in great numbers, and with not less valor, having 
fire-balls in their hands, and earthen pots full of powder; all 
which things, being now at the top of the walls, they kindled 
and cast in among the Spaniards. 

This effort of the pirates was very great, insomuch that the 
Spaniards could no longer resist nor defend the castle, which 
was now entered. Hereupon, they all threw down their arms, 
and craved quarter for their lives ; only the governor of the 
city would crave no mercy, but killed many of the pirates with 
his own hands, and not a few of his own soldiers, because they 
did not stand to their arms. And though the pirates asked him 
if he would have quarter ; yet he constantly answered, " By n,? 



106 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

means ; I had rather die as a valiant soldier, than he handed as 
a coward." They endeavored as much as thpy could to take 
him prisoner, hut he defended himself so ohstinately, that they 
were forced to kill him, notwithstanding all the cries and tears 
of his own wife and daughter, who begged him on their knees 
to demand quarter, and save his life. When the pirates had 
possessed themselves of the castle, which was about night, 
they enclosed therein all the prisoners, placing the women and 
men by themselves, with some guards ; the wounded were put 
in an apartment by itself, that their own complaints might be 
the cure of their diseases, for no other was afforded them. 

This done, they fell to eating and drinking, as usual ; that 
•is, committing in both all manner of debauchery and excess: 
these two vices were immediately followed by many insolent 
actions of rape and adultery, .committed on many very honest 
women, as well married as virgins ;. who, being threatened with 
the sword, were constrained to submit their bodies to the vio- 
lence of those lewd and wicked men. Thus they gave them- 
selves up to ail sorts of debauchery, that fifty courageous men 
might easily have retaken the city, and killed all the pirates. 
Next day. having plundered all they could find, they examined 
some of the prisoners, (who had been persuaded by their com- 
panions to say they were the richest of the town,) charging 
them severely to discover where they had hid their riches and 
goods. Not being able to extort any thing from them, they 
not being the right persons, it was resolved to torture them. 
This they did so cruelly, that many of them died on the rack, 
or presently after. Now the president of Panama being adver- 
tised of the pillage and ruin of Puerto Bello, he employed all 
his care and industry to raise forces to pursue and cast out the 
pirates thence ; but these cared little for his preparations, hav. 
ing their ships at hand, and determined to fire the city, and re- 
treat. They had now been at Puerto Bello fifteen days, in 
which time they had lost many of their men, both by the iin- 
healthiness of the country, and their extravagant debaucheries. 

Hereupon they prepared to depart, carrying on board all the 
pillage they had got, having first provided the fleet with suf- 
ficient victuals for the voyage. While these things were doing, 
Captain Morgan demanded of the prisoners a ransom for the 
city, or else he would burn it down, and blow up all the castles ; 
withal he commanded them to send speedily two persons, to pro- 
cure the sum, which was one hundred thousand pieces of eight. 
To this effect two men were sent to the president of Panama, who 
gave him aa account of all. The president having now a body 
of men ready, set forth towards Puerto Bello, to encounter the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 107 

pirates before their retreat ; but they hearing of his coming, in- 
stead of flying away, went out to meet him at a narrow pas- 
sage, which he must pass : here they placed one hundred men, 
very well armed, which at the first encounter put to flight a 
good party of those of Panama. This obliged the president to 
retire for that time, not being yet in a posture of strength to pro- 
ceed farther. Presently after, he sent a message to Captain 
Morgan, to tell him, " that if he departed not suddenly with 
all his forces from Puerto Bello, he ought to expect no quarter 
for himself, nor his companions, when he should take them, as 
he hoped soon to do." Captain Morgan, who feared not his 
threats, knowing he had a secure retreat in his ships, which 
were at hand, answered, " he would not deliver the castles be- 
fore he had received the contribution money he had demanded ; 
which if it were not paid down, he would certainly burn the 
whole city, and then leave it, demolishing beforehand the cas- 
tles, and killing the prisoners." 

The governor of Panama perceived by this answer that no 
means would serve to mollify the hearts of the pirates, nor re- 
duce them to reason. Hereupon, he determined to leave them, 
as also those of the city whom he came to relieve, involved in 
the difficulties of making the best agreement they could. Thus 
in a few days more the miserable citizens gathered the contribu- 
tion required, and brought one hundred thousand pieces of eight 
to the pirates for a ransom of their cruel captivity : but the presi- 
dent of Panama was much amazed to consider that four hun- 
dred men could take such a great city, with so many strong 
castles, especially having no ordnance wherewith to raise bat- 
teries ; and what was more, knowing the citizens of Puerto 
Bello had always great repute of being good soldiers themselves, 
and who never wanted courage in their own defence. This 
astonishment was so great, as made him send to Captain Mor- 
gan, desiring some small pattern of those arms wherewith he 
had taken with such vigor so great a city. Captain Morgan 
received this messenger very kindly and with great civility ; 
and gave him a pistol, and a few small bullets, to carry back to 
the president his master ; telling him, withal, " he desired him 
to accept that slender pattern of the arms wherewith he had 
taken Puerto Bello, and keep them for a twelvemonth ; after 
which time he promised to come to Panama, and fetch them 
away." The governor returned the present very soon to Cap- 
tain Morgan, giving him thanks for the favor of lending him 
such weapons as he needed not ; and, withal, sent him a ring 
of gold, with this message, " that he desired him not to give 
himself the labor of coming to Panama, as he had done to Puer- 



108 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

to Bello ; for he did assure him, he should not speed so well 
here as he had done there. 

After this, Captain Morgan (having provided his fleet with all 
necessaries, and taken with him the best guns of the castle, 
nailing up the rest) set sail from Puerto Bello with all his ships, 
and arriving in a few days at Cuba, he sought out a place where- 
in he might quickly make the dividend of their spoil. They 
found in ready money two hundred and fifty thousand pieces 
of eight, besides other merchandises ; as cloth, linen, silks, &c 
With this rich purchase they sailed thence to their common 
place of rendezvous, Jamaica. Being arrived, they passed here 
some time in all sorts of vices and debaucheries, according to 
their custom ; spending very prodigally what others had gained 
with no small labor and toil. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Captain Morgan takes the City of Maracaibo, on the coast of Neuva Venezuela. 
— Piracies committed in those Seas. — Ruin of three Spanish Ships, sent forth 
to hinder the robberies of the Pirates. 

Not long after their arrival at Jamaica, being that short time 
they needed to lavish away all the riches above mentioned, 
they concluded on another enterprise to seek new fortunes. To 
this effect, Captain Morgan ordered all the commanders of his 
ships to meet at De la Vacca, or the Cow Isle, south of Hispan- 
iola, as is said. Hither flocked to them great numbers of other 
pirates, French and English ; the name of Captain Morgan 
being now famous in all the neighboring countries for his 
great enterprises. There was then at Jamaica an English ship 
newly come from New England, well mounted with thirty-six 
guns : this vessel, by order of the governor of Jamaica, joined 
Captain Morgan to strengthen his fleet, and give him great 
courage to attempt mighty things. With this supply, Captain 
Morgan judged himself sufficiently strong; but there being in 
the same place another great vessel of twenty-four iron guns, 
and twelve brass ones, belonging to the French, Captain Morgan 
endeavored also to join this ship to his own ; but the French 
not daring to trust the English, denied absolutely to consent. 

The French pirates belonging to this great ship had met at 
sea an English vessel ; and being under great want of victuals, 
they had taken some provisions out of the English ship, without 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 109 

paying for them, having, perhaps, no ready money aboard ; only 
they gave them bills of exchange, for Jamaica and Tortuga, to re- 
ceive money there. Captain Morgan having notice of this, and 
perceiving he could not prevail with the French captain to follow 
him, resolved to lay hold on this occasion, to ruin the French 
and seek his revenge. Hereupon he invited, with dissimula- 
tion, the French commander, and several of his men, to dine 
with him on board the great ship that was come to Jamaica, as 
is said. Being come, he made them all prisoners, pretending 
the injury aforesaid done to the English vessel. 

This unjust action of Captain Morgan was soon followed by 
divine punishment, as we may conceive j the manner I shall in- 
stantly relate. Captain Morgan, presently after he had taken 
these French prisoners, called a council to deliberate what place 
they should first pitch upon in this new expedition. Here it 
was determined to go to the Isle of Savona, to wait for the 
flota then expected from Spain, and take any of the Spanish 
vessels straggling from the rest. This resolution being taken, 
they began aboard the grea^t ship to feast one another for joy 
of their new voyage, and happy council, as they hoped. They 
drank many healths, and 'discharged many guns, the common 
sign of mirth among seamen. Most of the men being drunk, 
by what accident is not known, the ship suddenly was blown 
up, with three hundred and fifty Englishmen, besides the French 
prisoners in the hold ; of all which, there escaped but thirty men, 
who were in the great cabin, at some distance from the main 
force of the powder. Many more, it is thought, might have es- 
caped, had they not been so much overtaken with wine. 

This loss brought much consternation of mind upon the 
English ; they knew not whom to blame, but at last the accu- 
sation was laid on the French prisoners, whom they suspected 
to have fired the powder of the ship out of revenge, though 
with the loss of their own lives ; hereupon they added new ac- 
cusations to their former, whereby to seize the ship and all that 
was in it, by saying the French designed to commit piracy on 
the English. The grounds of this accusation were given by a 
commission from the governor of Barracoa, found aboard the 
French vessel, wherein were these words, "That the said 
governor did permit the French to trade in all Spanish ports, 
i&c, as also to cruise on the English pirates in what place 
soever they could find them, because of the multitude of hos- 
tilities which they had committed against the subjects of his 
Catholic majesty in time of peace betwixt the two crowns. 
This commission for trade was interpreted as an express order 
to exercise piracy and war against them, though it was only a 
10 



110 • THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

bare license for coming into the Spanish ports; the cloak ol 
which permission were those words, "That they should cruise 
upon the English. And though the French did sufficiently 
expound the true sense of it, yet they could not clear tbem- 
themselves to Captain Morgan, nor his council ; but in lieu 
thereof, the ship and men were seized and sent to Jamaica. 
Here they also endeavored to obtain justice, and the restitution 
of their ship, but all in vain ; for instead of justice, they were 
long detained in prison, and threatened with hanging. 

Eight days after the loss of the said ship, Captain Morgan 
commanded the bodies of the miserable wretches who were 
blown up to be searched for, as they floated on the sea ; not to 
afford them Christian burial, but for their clothes and attire ; 
and if any had gold rings on their fingers, these were cut off, 
leaving them exposed to the voracity of the monsters of the 
sea. At last they set sail for Savona, the place of their assig- 
nation. There were in all fifteen vessels^ Captain Morgan com- 
manding the biggest, of only fourteen small guns ; his number 
of men was nine hundred and sixty. Few days after they ar- 
rived at the Cabo de Lobos, south of Hispaniola, between Cape 
Tiburon and Cape Punta de Espada ; hence they Could not 
pass by reason of contrary winds for three weeks, notwith- 
standing all the utmost endeavors Captain Morgan used to get 
forth ; then they doubled the cape, and spied an English ves- 
sel at a distance. Having spoken with her, they found she 
came from England, and bought of her for ready money some 
provisions they wanted. 

Captain Morgan proceeded in his voyage till he came to the 
port of Ocoa ; here he landed some men, sending them into the 
woods to seek water and provisions, the better to spare such as 
he had already on board. They killed many beasts, and among 
others some horses. But the Spaniards, not well satisfied at 
their hunting, laid a stratagem for them, ordering three or four 
hundred men to come from Santo Domingo not far distant, and 
desiring them to hunt in all the parts thereabout near the sea, 
that so, if the pirates should return, they might find no subsist- 
ence. Within few days the same pirates returned to hunt, 
but finding nothing to kill, a party of about fifty straggled far- 
ther on into the woods. The Spaniards, who watched all their 
motions, gathered a great herd of cows, and set two or three 
men to keep them. The pirates having spied them, killed 
a sufficient number ; and though the Spaniards could-see them 
at a distance, yet they would not hinder them at present ; but 
as soon as they attempted to carry them away, they set upon 
them furiously, crying, mat a. mata, i. e. kill, kill. Thus the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. Ill 

pirates were compelled to quit the prey, and retreat to their 
ships; but they did it in good order, retiring by degrees, and 
when they had opportunity, discharging full vollies on the 
Spaniards, killing many of their enemies, though with some loss. 

The Spaniards seeing their damage, endeavored to save them- 
selves by flight, and carry off their dead and wounded com- 
panions. The pirates perceiving them flee, would not content 
themselves with what hurt they had already done, but pursued 
them speedily into the woods, and killed the greatest part of 
those that remained. Next day Captain Morgan, extremely 
offended at what had passed, went himself with two hundred 
men into the woods to seek for the rest of the Spaniards, but 
finding nobody, he revenged his wrath on the houses of the 
poor and miserable rustics that inhabit those scattering fields 
and woods, of which he burnt a great number : with this he 
returned to his ships, somewhat more satisfied in his mind for 
having done some considerable damage to the enemy, which 
was always his most ardent desire. 

The impatience wherewith Captain Morgan had waited a 
long while for some of his ships not yet arrived, made him re- 
solve to sail away without them, and steer for Savona, the place 
he always designed. Being arrived, and not finding any of 
his ships come, he was more impatient and concerned than 
before, fearing their loss, or that he must proceed without them ; 
but he waited for their arrival a few days longer, and having no 
great plenty of provisions, he sent a crew of one hundred and 
fifty men to Hispaniola to pillage some towns near Santo Do- 
mingo ; but the Spaniards, upon intelligence of their coming, 
were so vigilant, and in such good posture of defence, that the 
pirates thought not convenient to assault them, choosing rather 
to return empty handed to Captain Morgan, than to perish in 
that desperate enterprise. 

At last Captain Morgan, seeing the other ships did not come, 
made a -review of his people, and. found only about five hundred 
men ; the ships wanting were seven : he had only eight in his 
company, of which, the greatest part were very small. Hav- 
ing hitherto resolved to cruise on the coasts of Caraccas, and 
to plunder the towns and villages there, finding himself at pres- 
ent with such small forces, he changed his resolution by advice 
of a French captain in his fleet. This Frenchman having 
served Lolonois in the like enterprises, and at the taking of Mar- 
acaibo, knew all the entries, passages, forces, and means how to 
put in execution the same again in company of Captain Mor- 
gan ; to whom having made a full relation of all, he concluded 
to sack it the second time, being himself persuaded, with all 



112 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

his men, of the facility of the Frenchmen propounded. Here- 
upon they weighed anchor, and steered towards Curasao. Be- 
ing come within sight of it, they landed at another island near 
it, called Rnba, about twelve leagues from Curasao, to the 
west. This island, defended by a slender garrison, is inhabited 
by Indians subject to Spain, and speak Spanish, by reason ot 
the Roman Catholic religion, here cultivated by a few priests 
sent from the neighboring continent. 

The inhabitants exercise commerce of trade with the pirates 
that go and come this way. They buy of the islanders sheep, 
lambs, and kids, which they exchange for linen, thread, and 
like things. The country is very dry and barren, the whole 
substance thereof consisting in those three things, and in a little 
indifferent wheat. This isle produces many venomous insects, 
as vipers, spiders, and others. These last are so pernicious, 
that a man bitten by them dies mad ; and the manner of recov- 
ering such, is to tie them very fast both hands and feet, and so 
to leave them twenty-four hours, without eating or drinking 
any thing. Captain Morgan, as was said, having cast anchor be- 
fore this island, bought of the inhabitants sheep, lambs, and 
wood, for all his fleet. After two days, he sailed again in the 
night, to the intent that they might not see what course he 
steered. 

Next day they arrived at the Sea of Maracaibo, taking great 
care not to be seen from Vigilia, for which reason they anchored 
out of sight o[ it. Night being come, they set sail again to- 
wards the laud, and next morning, by break of day, were got 
directly over against the bar of the said lake. The Spaniards 
had built, another fort since the action of Lolonois, whence they 
now fired continually against the pirates, while they put their 
men into boats to land. The dispute continued very hot, being 
managed with great courage from morning till dark night. 
This being come, Captain Morgan, in the obscurity thereof, 
drew nigh the fort, which having examined, he found nobody 
in it, the Spaniards having deserted it not long before. They 
left behind them a match lighted near a train of powder, to have 
blown up the pirates and the whole fortress as soon as they 
were in it. % This design had taken effect, had not the pirates 
discovered it in a quarter of an hour ; but Captain Morgan 
snatching away the match, saved both his own and his com- 
panions' lives. They found here much powder, whereof he 
provided his fleet, and then demolished part of the walls, nail- 
ing sixteen pieces of ordnance, from twelve to twenty-four 
pounders. Here they also found many muskets and other mili- 
tary provisions. 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 113 

Next day they commanded the ships to enter the bar, among 
which they divided the powder, muskets, and other things 
found in the fort ; then they embarked again to continue their 
course towards Maracaibo ; but the waters being very low, they 
could not pass a certain bank at the entry of the lake. Here- 
upon they were compelled to go into canoes and small boats, 
with which they arrived next day before Maracaibo, having no 
other defence than some small pieces which they could carry 
in the said boats. Being landed, they ran immediately to the 
fort De la Barra, which they found as the precedent, without 
any person in it, for all were fled into the woods, leaving also 
the town without any people, unless a few miserable folks, who 
had nothing to lose. 

As soon as they had entered the towns, the pirates searched 
every corner to see if they could find any people that were hid, 
who might offend them unawares ; not finding any body, every 
party as they came out of their several ships chose what houses 
they pleased. The church was deputed for the common corps 
du guard, where they lived after their military manner, very 
insolently. Next day after they sent a troop of one hundred 
mqn to seek the inhabitants and their goods; these returned 
next day, bringing with them thirty persons, men, women, and 
children, and fifty mules loaded with good merchandise. All 
these miserable people were put to the rack, to make them con- 
fess where the rest of the inhabitants were and their goods. 
Among other tortures, one was to stretch their limbs with cords, 
and then to beat them with sticks and other instruments. 
Others had burning matches placed betwixt their fingers, which 
were thus burnt alive. Others had slender cords or matches 
twisted about their heads, till their eyes burst out. Thus all 
inhuman cruelties were executed on those innocent people. 
Those who would not confess, or who had nothing to declare, 
died under the hands of those villains. These tortures and 
racks continued for three whole weeks, in which time they 
sent out daily parties to seek for more people to torment and 
rob, they never returning without booty and new riches. 

Captain Morgan having now gotten into his hands about one 
hundred of the chief families, with all their goodSj at last re- 
solved for Gibraltar, as Lolonois had done before ; with this 
design he equipped his fleet, providing it sufficiently with all 
necessaries. He put likewise on board all the prisoners, and 
weighing anchor, set sail with resolution to hazard a battle. 
They had sent before some prisoners to Gibraltar, to require the 
inhabitants to surrender, otherwise Captain Morgan would cer- 
tainly put them all to the sword, without any quarter. Arriving 
10* 



1 14 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

before Gibraltar, the inhabitants received him with continual 
shooting of great cannon bullets ; but the pirates, instead ot 
fainting hereat, ceased not to encourage one another, saying, 
" We mast make one meal upon bitter things, before we come 
to taste the sweetness of the sugar this place affords." 

Next day, very early, they landed all their men, and being 
guided by the Frenchman abovesaid, they marched towards the 
town ; not by the common way, but crossing through woods, 
which way the Spaniards scarce thought they would have 
come ; for at the beginning of their march, they made as if they 
intended to come the next and open way to the town, hereby 
to deceive the Spaniards ; but these, remembering full well 
what Lolonois had done but two years before, thought it not 
safe to expect a second brunt, and hereupon all fled out of the 
town as fast as they could, carrying all their goods and riches, 
as also all the powder, and having nailed all the great guns, so 
as the pirates found not one person in the whole city, but one 
poor innocent man who was born a fool. This man they asked 
whither the inhabitants were fled, and where they had hid their 
goods ; to all which questions and the like, he constantly an- 
swered, " I know nothing, I know nothing ; " but they presently 
put him to the rack, and tortured him. with cords, which tor- 
ments forced him to cry out, " Do not torture me any more, 
but come with me, and I will show you my goods and my 
riches." They were persuaded, it seems, he was some rich 
person disguised under those clothes so poor, and that innocent 
tongue ; so they went along with him, and he conducted them 
to a poor miserable cottage, wherein he had a i'ew earthen dishes 
and other things of no value, and three pieces of eight, con- 
cealed with some other trumpery under ground. Then they 
asked him his name, and he readily answered, " My name is 
Don Sebastian Sanchez, and I am brother unto the governor 
of Maracaibo." This foolish answer, it must be conceived, these 
inhuman wretches took for truth ; for no sooner had they heard 
it, but they put him again upon the rack, lifting him up oh 
high with cords, and tying huge weights to his feet and neck. 
Besides which, they burnt him alive, applying palm-leaves 
burning to his face. 

The same day they sent out a party to seek for the inhabit- 
ants, on whom they might exercise their cruelties. These 
brought back an honest peasant with, two daughters of his, 
whom they intended to torture as they used others, if they 
showed not the places where the inhabitants were hid. The 
peasant knew some of those places, and seeing himself threat- 
ened with the rack, went with the pirates to show them ; but 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 1 IB 

the Spaniards perceiving their enemies to range every where 
up and down the woods, were already fled thence farther off 
into the thickest of the woods, where they built themselves 
huts, to preserve from the weather those few goods they had. 
The pirates judged themselves deceived by the peasant, and 
hereupon, to revenge themselves, notwithstanding all his ex- 
cuses and supplication, they hanged him on a tree. 

Then they divided into parties to search the plantations ; for 
they knew the Spaniards that were absconded could not live on 
what the woods afforded, without coming now and then for pro- 
visions to their country houses. Here they found a slave, to 
whom they promised mountains of gold and his liberty, by trans- 
porting him to Jamaica, if he would show them where the inhab- 
itants of Gibraltar lay hid. This fellow conducted them to a 
party of Spaniards, whom they instantly made prisoners, com- 
manding this slave to kill some before the eyes of the rest, that 
by this perpetrated crime he might never be able to leave their 
wicked company. The negro, according to their orders, com- 
mitted many murders and insolences upon the Spaniards, and 
followed the unfortunate traces of the pirates ; who eight days 
after returned to Gibraltar with many prisoners, and some mules 
laden with riches. They examined every prisoner by himself 
(who were in all about two hundred and fifty persons) where 
they had hid the rest of their goods, and if they knew of their 
fellow-townsmen. Such as would not confess were tormented 
after a most inhuman manner. Among the rest, there happened 
to be a Portuguese, who by a negro was reported, though falsely, 
to be very rich ; this man was«commanded to produce his riches. 
His answer was, he had no more than one hundred pieces of 
eight in the world, and these had been stolen from him two 
days before by his servant ;* which words, though he sealed 
with many oaths and protestations, yet they would not believe 
him, but dragging him to the rack, without any regard to his 
age of fifty years, they stretched him with cords, breaking both 
his arms behind his shoulders. 

This cruelty went not alone ; for he not being able or willing 
to make any other declaration, they put him to another sort of 
torment more barbarous : they tied him. with small cords by 
his two thumbs and great toes to four stakes fixed in the ground 
at a convenient distance, the whole weight of his body hanging 
on those cords. Not satisfied yet with this cruel torture, they 
took a stone of above two hundred pounds, and laid it upon his • 
belly, as if they intended to press him to death ; they also 
kindled palm-leaves, and applied the flame to the face of this 
unfortunate Portuguese, burning with them the whole skin, 



116 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

beard, and hair. At last, seeing that neither with these tor- 
tures, nor others, they could not get any thing out of him, they 
untied the cords and carried him half dead to the church, where 
was their corps da guard. Here they tied him anew to one of 
the pillars thereof, leaving him in that condition without giving 
him either to eat or drink, unless very sparingly, and so little 
as would scarce sustain life for some days ; four or five being past, 
he desired one of the prisoners might come to him, by whose 
means he promised he would endeavor to raise some money to 
satisfy their demands. The prisoner whom he required was 
brought to him, and he ordered him to promise the pirates five 
hundred pieces of eight for his ransom : but they were deaf and 
obstinate at such a small sum, and instead of accepting it, 
beat him cruelly with cudgels, saying, " Old fellow, instead of 
five hundred, you must say five hundred thousand pieces of 
eight, otherwise you shall here end your life." Finally, after a 
thousand protestations that he was but a miserable man, and kept 
a poor tavern for his living, he agreed with them for one thous- 
and pieces of eight. These he raised, and having paid them, 
got his liberty ; though so horribly maimed, that it is scarce to 
be believed he could survive many weeks. 

Other tortures, besides these, were exercised upon others, 
which this Portuguese endured not; some were hanged up by 
the testicles, or privy members, and left till they fell to the 
ground, those parts being torn from their bodies. It with this 
they minded to show mercy to those wretches, thus lacerated 
in the most tender parts, their mercy was to run them through 
with their swords : otherwise the»y used to lie four or five days 
under the agonies of death, before they died. Others were cru- 
cified by these tyrants, and with kindled matches burnt between 
the joints of their fingers and toes ; others had their feet put 
into the fire, and thus were left to be roasted alive. Having used 
these and other cruelties, with the white men, they began to 
practise the same with the negroes, their slaves, who were 
treated with no less inhumanity than their masters. 

Among these slaves was one who promised Captain Morgan 
to conduct him to a river of the lake, where he should find a 
ship and four boats, richly laden with goods of the inhabitants 
of Maracaibo ; the same discovered likewise where the gover- 
nor of Gibraltar lay hid, with the greatest part of the women 
of the town ; but ail this he revealed upon great menaces to 
hang him, if he told not what he knew. Captain Morgan sent 
away presently two hundred men in two settees, or great boats, 
to this river, to seek for what the slave had discovered ; but he 
himself, with two hundred and fifty more, undertook to go and 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 117 

take the governor. This gentleman was retired to a small ?sl- 
and in the middle of the river, where he had built a little fort, 
as. well as he could, for his defence ; but hearing that Captain 
Morgan came in person with great forces to seek him, he retired 
to the top of a mountain not far off, to which there was no as- 
cent, but by a very narrow passage, so straight, that whoever 
did attempt to gain the ascent, must march his men one by one. 
Captain Morgan spent two days before he arrived atithis little 
island, whence he designed to proceed to the mountain where 
the governor was posted, had he not been told of the impossi- 
bility of ascent, not only for the narrowness of the way, but 
because the governor was well provided with all sorts of ammu- 
nition ; besides, there was fallen a huge rain, whereby all the 
pirates' baggage and powder was wet. By this rain, also, they 
lost many men at the passage over a river that was overflown ; 
here perished likewise some women and children, and many 
mules laden with plate and goods, which they had taken from 
the fugitive inhabitants ; so that things were in a very bad con- 
dition with Captain Morgan, and his men much harassed, as 
may be inferred from this relation; whereby, if the Spaniards, 
in that juncture, had had but fifty men well armed, they might 
have entirely destroyed the pirates. But the fears .the Span- 
iards had at first conceived were so great, that the leaves stirring 
on the trees they often fancied to be pirates. Finally, Captain 
Morgan and his people, having upon this march sometimes 
waded up to their middles in water for half or whole miles 
together, they at last escaped, for the greatest part ; but the 
women and children, for the major part, died. 

Thus twelve days after they set forth to seek the governor, 
they returned to Gibraltar, with many prisoners ; two days 
after, arrived also the two settees that went to the river, bring-, 
ing with them four boats, and some prisoners ; but the great- 
est part of the merchandise in the said boats they found not, 
the Spaniards having unladed and secured it, having intelligence 
of their coming ; who designed also, when the merchandise was 
taken out, to burn the boats ; yet the Spaniards made not so 
much haste to unlade these vessels, but that they left in the 
ship and boats great parcels of goods, which the pirates seized, 
and brought a considerable booty to Gibraltar. Thus, after 
they had been in possession of the place five entire weeks, and 
committed an infinite number of murders, robberies, rapes, and 
such like insolences, they concluded to depart ; but first they 
ordered some prisoners to go forth into the woods and fields, 
and collect a ransom for the town, otherwise they would cer- 
tainly burn it down to the ground. These poor afflicted men 



118 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

went as they were sent, and having searched the adjoining 
fields and woods, returned to Captain Morgan, telling him, they 
had scarce been able to find any body, but that to such as they 
had found, they had proposed his demands; to which they had 
answered, that the governor had prohibited them to give any 
ransom for the town, but they beseeched him to have a little 
patience, and among themselves they would collect five thou- 
sand pieces of eight ; and for the rest, they would give some of 
their own townsmen as hostages, whom he might carry to Mar- 
acaibo. till he had received full satisfaction. 

Captain Morgan having now been long absent from Maracai- 
bo, and knowing the Spaniards had had sufficient time to for- 
tify themselves, and hinder his departure out of the lake, grant- 
ed their proposition, and made as much haste as he could for 
his departure : he gave liberty to all the prisoners, first putting 
every one to a ransom ; yet he detained the slaves. They de- 
livered him four persons agreed on for hostages of what money 
more he was to receive, and they desired "to have the slave 
mentioned above, intending to punish him according to his 
deserts ; but Captain Morgan would not deliver him, lest they 
should burn him alive. At last they 'weighed anchor,. and set 
sail in all haste for Maracaibo. Here they arrived in four days, 
and found all things as they had left them ; yet here they re- 
ceived news from a poor distressed old man, whom alone they 
found sick in the town, that three Spanish men-of-war were 
arrived at the entry of the lake, waiting the return of the pi- 
rates ; moreover, that the castle at the entry thereof was again 
put into a good posture of defence, well provided with guns, 
and men, and all sorts of ammunition. 

This relation could not choose but disturb the mind of Cap- 
tain Morgan, who now was careful how to get away through 
the narrow entry of the lake. Hereupon, he sent his swiftest 
boat to view the entry, and see if things were as they had been 
related. Next day the boat came back, confirming what was 
said, assuring him they had viewed the ships so nigh, that 
they had been in great danger of their shot ; hereunto they 
added, that the biggest ship was mounted with forty guns, the 
second with thirty, and the smallest with twenty-four. These 
forces being much beyond those of Captain Morgan, caused a 
general consternation in the pirates, whose biggest vessel had 
not above fourteen small guns. Every one judged Captain 
Morgan to despond, and to be hopeless, considering the difficul- 
ty of passing safe with his little fleet amidst those great ships and 
the fort, or he must perish. How to escape any other way, by 
pea or land, they saw no way. Under these necessities, Cap- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 119 

tain Morgan resumed new courage, and, resolving to show him- 
self still undaunted, he boldly sent a Spaniard to the admiral 
of those three ships, demanding of him a considerable ransom 
for not putting the city of Maracaibo to the flames. This man 
(who was received by the Spaniards with great admiration of 
the boldness of those pirates) returned two days after, bringing 
to Captain Morgan a letter from the said admiral, as follows : — 

" The Letter of Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa, Admiral oj 
the Spanish Fleet ; to Captain Morgan, Commander of the 
Pirates : — 

" Having understood, by all our friends and neighbors, the 
unexpected news, that you have dared to attempt and commit 
hostilities in the countries, cities, towns, and villages belonging 
to the dominions of his Catholic majesty, my sovereign lord and 
master, I let you understand, by these lines, that I am come to 
this place, according to my obligation, near that castle which 
you took out of the hands of a parcel of cowards ; where I have 
put. things into a very good posture of defence, and mounted 
again the artillery which you had nailed and dismounted. My 
intent is, to dispute with you your passage out of the lake, and 
follow and pursue you every where, to the end you may see the 
performance of my duty. Notwithstanding, if you be contented 
to surrender with humility all that you have taken, together 
with the slaves and all other prisoners, I wjjl let you freely pass, 
without trouble or molestation, on condition that you retire 
home presently to your own country. But if you make any 
resistance or opposition to what I offer you, I assure you I will 
command boats to come from Caraccas, wherein I will put my 
troops, and, coming to Maracaibo, will put you every man to 
the sword. This is my last and absolute resolution. Be pru- 
dent, therefore, and do not abuse my bounty with ingratitude. 
I have with me very good soldiers, who desire nothing more 
ardently than to revenge on you and your people all the cru- 
elties and base, infamous actions you have committed upon the 
Spanish nation in America. Dated on board the royal ship 
named the Magdalen, lying at anchor at the entry of the Lake of 
Maracaibo, this 24th of April, 1669. 

" Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa. " 

As soon as Captain Morgan received this letter, he called all 
his men together in the market-place of Maracaibo, and after 
reading the contents thereof, both in French and English, asked 
their advice and resolution on the whole matter, and whether 



120 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

they had rather surrender all they had got, to obtain their liber- 
ty, than fight for it. 

They answered all, unanimously, they had rather fight to 
the last drop of blood, than surrender so easily the booty they 
had got with so much danger of their lives. Among the rest, 
one said to Captain Morgan, "Take yon care for the rest, and 
I will undertake to destroy the biggest of those ships with only 
twelve men. The manner shall be, by making a brnlot, or 
fire-ship, of that vessel we took in the River of Gibraltar ; 
which, to the intent she may not be known as a fire-ship, 
\ve will fill her decks with logs of wood, standing with hats 
and montera caps, to deceive their sight with the representa- 
tion of men. The same we will do at the port-holes that serve 
for the guns, which shall be filled with counterfeit cannon. 
At the stern we will hang out English colors, and persuade the 
enemy she is one of our best men-of-war going to fight them." 
This proposition was admitted and approved by every one ; 
howbeit, their fears were not quite dispersed. 

For, notwithstanding what had been concluded there, they 
endeavored the next day to come to an accommodation with 
Don Alonso. To this effect, Captain Morgan sent to him two 
persons, with these propositions : First. That lie would quit 
Maracaibo, without doing any damage to the town, or exact- 
ing any ransom for the firing thereof. Secondly. That he 
would set at liberty one half of the slaves and all the prison- 
ers without ransom. Thirdly. That he would send home freely 
the four chief inhabitants of Gibraltar, which he had in his 
custody as hostages for the contributions those people had 
promised to pay. These propositions were instantly rejected 
by Don Alonso, as dishonorable ; neither would he hear of any 
other accommodation, but sent back this message : " That if 
they surrendered not themselves voluntarily into his hands, 
within two days, under the conditions which- he had offered 
them by his letter, he would immediately come and force them 
to do it." 

No sooner had Captain Morgan received this message from 
Don Alonso, than he put all things in order to fight, resolving 
to get out of the lake by main force, without surrendering any 
thing. First, he commanded all the slaves and prisoners to be 
tied, and guarded very well, and gather all the pitch, tar, and 
brimstone they could find in the whole town, for the fire-ship 
above mentioned; then they made several inventions of pow- 
der and brimstone with palm-leaves, well anointed with tar. 
They covered very well their counterfeit cannon, laying under 
every piece many pounds of powder ; besides, they cut down 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 121 

many curt-works of the ship, that the powder might exert its 
strength the better ; breaking open, also, new port-holes, where, 
instead of guns, they placed little drums used? by the negroes. 
Finally, the decks were handsomely beset with many pieces of 
wood, dressed up like men with hats, or monteras, and armed 
with swords, muskets, and bandeleers. 

The fire-ship being thus fitted, they prepared to go to the 
entry of the port. All the prisoners were put into one great 
boat, and in another of the biggest they placed all the women, 
plate, jewels, and other rich things ; into others they put the 
bales of goods and merchandise, and other things of bulk ; 
each of these boats had twelve men aboard, very well armed ; 
the Brulot had orders to go before the rest of the vessels, and 
presently to fall foul with the great ship. All things being 
ready, Captain Morgan exacted an oath of all his comrades, 
protesting to defend themselves to the last drop of blood, with- 
out demanding quarter ; promising withal, that whosoever be- 
haved himself thus, should be very well rewarded. 

With this courageous resolution, they set sail to seek the 
Spaniards. On April 30, 1669, they found the Spanish fleet 
riding at anchor in the middle of the entry of the lake. Cap- 
tain Morgan, it being now late, and almost dark, commanded 
all his vessels to an anchor, designing to fight, even all night, 
if they forced him to it. He ordered a careful watch to be 
kept aboard every vessel till morning, they being almost with- 
in shot, as well as within sight of the enemy. The day dawn- 
ing, they weighed anchor, and sailed again, steering directly 
towards the Spaniards ; who seeing them move, did instantly 
the same. The fire-ship sailing before the rest, fell presently 
upon the great ship, and grappled her; which the Spaniards 
(too late) perceiving to be a fire-ship, they attempted to put her 
oif, but in vain ; for the flame seizing her timber and tackling, 
sxm consumed all the stern, the fore part sinking into the sea, 
where she perished. The second Spanish ship perceiving the 
admiral to burn, not by accident, but by industry of the enemy, 
escaped towards the castle, where the Spaniards themselves 
sunk her, choosing to lose their ship rather than to fall into the 
hands of those pirates. The third, having no opportunity to 
escape, was taken by the pirates. The seamen that sunk the 
second ship near the castle, perceiving the pirates come towards 
them to take what remains they could find of their shipwreck, 
(for some part was yet above water,) set fire'also to this vessel^ 
that the pirates might enjoy nothing of that spoil. The first 
ship being set on fire, some of the persons in her swam towards 
the shore ; these the pirates would have takeii up in their boats, 
11 



122 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

but they would not ask or take quarter, choosing rather to lose 
their lives, than receive them from their hands, for reasons 
which I shall relate. 

The pirates being extremely glad at this signal victory so 
soon obtained, and with so great an inequality of forces, con- 
ceived greater pride than they had before, and all presently ran 
ashore, intending to take the castle. This they found well 
provided with men, cannon, and ammnniton, they having no 
other arms than muskets, and a few hand granadoes ; their 
own artillery they thought incapable, for its smallness, of mak- 
ing any considerable breach in the walls. Thus they spent 
the rest of the day, firing at the garrison with their muskets 
till the dusk of the evening ; when they attempted to advance 
nearer the walls, to throw in their fire-balls ; but the Spaniards 
resolving to sell their lives as dear as they could, fired so furi- 
ously at them, that they having experimented the obstinacy of 
the enemy, and seeing thirty of their men dead, and as many 
more wounded, they retired to their ships. 
, The Spaniards believing the pirates would next day renew 
the attack with their own cannon, labored hard all night to put 
things in order for their coming ; particularly, they dug down, 
and made plain, some little hills and eminences, when possibly 
the castle might be offended. 

But Captain Morgan intended not to come again, busying 
himself next day in taking prisoners some of the men who still 
swarm alive, hoping to get part of the riches lost in the two 
ships that perished. Among the rest, he took a pilot, who was 
a stranger, and who belonged to the lesser ship of the two, of 
Avhom he inquired several things; as, What number of people 
those three ships had in them? Whether they expected any 
more ships to come ? From what port they set forth last, when 
they came to seek them out? He answered, in Spanish: — 

" Noble sir, be pleased to pardon and spare me, that no evil 
be done to me, being a stranger to this nation I have served, 
and I shall sincerely inform you of all that passed till our arri- 
val at this lake. We were sent, by orders from the supreme 
council of state in Spain, being six men of war well equipped, 
into these seas, with instructions to cruise upon the English 
pirates, and root them out from these parts, by destroying as 
many of them as we could. 

" These orders were given, upon the news brought to the 
court of Spain of the loss and ruin of Puerto Bello, and other 
places ; of all which damages and hostilities committed here 
by the English, dismal lamentations have often been made to 
the Catholic king and council, to whom belongs the care and 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 123 

preservation of this new world. And though the Spanish court 
hath many times by their ambassadors complained hereof to the 
king of England, yet it has been the constant answer of his 
majesty of Great Britain, that he never gave any letters patent, 
nor commissions, for acting any hostility against the subjects 
of the king of Spain. Hereupon the Catholic king resolved to 
revenge his subjects, and punish these proceedings ; command- 
ed six men of war to be equipped, which he sent under the 
command of Don Augustine de Bnstos, admiral of the said 
fleet. He commanded the biggest ship, named N. S. de la So- 
leda, of forty-eight great guns, and eight small ones. The 
vice-admiral was Don Alonzo del Campo y Espinosa, who com- 
manded the second ship called La Conception, of forty-four great 
guns, and eight small ones ; beside four vessels more, whereof 
the first was named the Magdalen, of thirty-six great guns, and 
twelve small ones, with two hundred and fifty men. The sec- 
ond was called St. Lewis, with twenty-six great guns, twelve 
small ones, and two hundred men. The third was called La 
Marqnesa, of sixteen great guns, eight small ones, and one hun- 
dred and fifty men. The fourth and last, N. S. del Carmen, 
with eighteen great guns, 8 small ones, and one hundred and 
fifty men. 

" Being arrived at Carthagena, the two greatest ships received 
orders to return to Spain, being judged too big for cruising on 
these coasts. With the four ships remaining, Don Alonso del 
Campo y Espinosa departed towards Campeachy to seek the 
English. We arrived at the port there, where, being surprised 
by a huge storm from the north, we lost one of our ships, be- 
ing that which I named last. Hence we sailed for Hispaniola, 
in sight of which we came in a few days, and steered for Santo 
Domingo : here we heard that there had passed that way a 
fleet from Jamaica, and that some men thereof had landed at 
Alta Gracia ; the inhabitants had taken one prisoner, who con- 
fessed their design was, to go and pillage the city of Caraccas. 
On this news, Den Alonso instantly weighed anchor, and cross- 
ing over to the continent, we came in sight of the Caraccas ; 
here we found them not, but met with a boat, which certified 
us they were in the Lake of Maracaibo, and that the fleet con- 
sisted of seven small ships, and one boat. 

". LTpon this we came here, and arriving at the entry of the 
lake, we shot off a gun for a pilot from the shore. Those on land 
perceiving we were Spaniards, came willingly to us with a pilot 
and told us the English had taken Maracaibo, and that they 
were now at the pillage of Gibraltar. Don Alonso, on this 
news, made a handsome speech to his soldiers and mariners, 



124 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

encouraging them to their duty, and promising to divide 
among them all they should take from the English. He or- 
dered the guns we had taken out of (he ship that was lost to 
be put into the castle, and mounted for its defence, with two 
eighteen pounders more out of his own ship. The pilots con- 
ducted us into the port, and Don Alonso commanded the peo- 
ple on shore to come before him, whom he ordered to repossess 
the castle, and reinforce it with one hundred men more than 
it had before its being taken. Soon after, we heard of your 
return from Gibraltar to Maracaibo, whither Don Alonso wrote 
you a letter, giving you an account of his arrival and design, 
and exhorting you to restore what you had taken. This you 
refusing, he renewed his promises to his soldiers and seamen ; 
and having given a very good supper to all his people, he or- 
dered them not to take or give any quarter ; which was the 
occasion of so many being drowned, who dared not to crave 
quarter, knowing themselves must give none. Two days be- 
fore you came against us, a negro came aboard Don Alonso's 
ship, telling him, " Sir, be pleased to have great care of your- 
self, for the English have prepared a fire-ship, with design to 
burn your fleet." But Don Alonso not believing this, answered 
" How can that be ? Have they, peradventure, wit enough to 
build a fire-ship? Or what instruments have they to do it 
withal ? " 

This pilot having related so distinctly these things to Cap- 
tain Morgan, was very well used by him, and after some kind 
proffers made to him, remained in his service. He told Cap- 
tain Morgan, that in the ship which was sunk there was a 
great quantity of plate, to the value of forty thousand pieces 
of eight ; which occasioned the Spaniards to be often seen in 
boats about it. Hereupon, Captain Morgan ordered one of his 
ships to remain there, to find ways of getting out of it what 
plate they could. Meanwhile, himself, with all his fleet, re- 
turned to Maracaibo, where he refitted the great ship he had 
taken, and chose it for himself, giving his own bottom to one 
of his captains. 

Then he sent a messenger to the admiral, who was escaped 
ashore, and got into the castle, demanding of him a ransom of 
fire for Maracaibo ; which being denied, he threatened entirely 
to consume and destroy it. The Spaniards, considering the ill 
luck they had all along with those pirates, and not knowing how 
to get rid of them, concluded to pay the said ransom, though 
Don Alonso would not consent. 

Hereupon, they sent to Captain Morgan, to know what sum 
he demanded. He answered, that on payment of thirty thou- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 125 

sand pieces of eight, and five hundred beeves, he would release 
the prisoners, and do no damage to the town. At last they 
agreed on twenty thousand pieces of eight, and five hundred 
beeves to victual his fleet. The cattle were brought the next 
day, with one part of the money; and while the pirates were 
busied in salting the flesh, they jnade up the whole twenty 
thousand pieces of eight, as was agreed. 

But Captain Morgan would not presently deliver the prison- 
ers, as he had promised, fearing the shot of the castle at his 
going forth out of the lake. Hereupon he told them he intend- 
ed not to deliver them till he was out of that danger, hoping 
thus to obtain a free passage. Then he set sail with his fleet 
in quest of the ship he had left, to seek for the plate of the ves- 
sel that was burnt. He found her on the place, with fifteen 
thousand pieces of eight got out of the work, besides many 
pieces of plate, as hilts of swords, and the like ; also a great 
quantity of pieces of eight, melted and run together by the force 
of the fire. 

Captain Morgan scarce thought himself secure, nor could he 
contrive how to avoid the shot of the castle ; hereupon he 
wished the prisoners to agree with the governor to permit a safe 
passage to his fleet, which, if he should not allow, he would 
certainly hang them all up in his ships. Upon this, the prison- 
ers met, and appointed some of their fellow-messengers to go 
to the said governor, Don Alonso. These went to him, beseech- 
ing and supplicating him to have compassion on those afflicted 
prisoners, who were, with their wives and children, in the hands 
of Captain Morgan ; and that to this effect he would be pleased 
to give his word to let the fleet of pirates freely pass, this being 
the only way to save both the lives of them that came with 
this petition, as also of those who remained in captivity; all 
being equally menaced with the sword and gallows, if he grant- 
ed them not this humble request. But Don Alonso gave them 
for answer a sharp reprehension of their cowardice, telling them, 
" If you had been as loyal to your king in hindering the entry 
of these pirates, as I shail do their going out, you had never 
caused these troubles neither to yourselves, nor to our whole 
nation, which hath suffered so much through your pusillanimity. 
In a word, I shall never .grant your request, but shall endeavor 
to maintain that respect which is due to my king, according tc 
my duty." 

Thus the Spaniards returned with much consternation, and 

no. hopes of obtaining their request, telling Captain Morgan what 

answer they had received. His«reply was, " If Don Alonso will 

not let me pass, I will find means how to do it without him." 

11* 



126 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA, 

Hereupon he presently made a dividend of all they had taken, 
fearing he might not have an opportunity to do it in anothej 
place, if any tempest should rise and separate the ships, as also 
being jealous that any of the. commanders might run away with 
the best part of the spoil, which then lay more in one vessel 
than another. Thus they all brought in according to their 
laws, and declared what they had, first making oath not to con- 
ceal the least thing. The accounts being cast up, they found 
to the value of twenty-five thousand pieces of eight in money 
and jewels, besides the huge quantity of merchandise and slaves, 
all which purchase was divided to every ship or boat, according 
to their share. 

The dividend being made, the question still remained how 
they should pass the castle, and get out of the lake. To this 
effect they made use of a stratagem, as follows. The day before 
the night wherein they determined to get forth, they embarked 
many of their men in canoes, and rowed towards the shore, as 
if they designed to land. Here they hid themselves under 
branches of trees that hang over the coast a while, laying them- 
selves down in the boats ; then the canoes returned to the ships, 
with the appearance of only two or three men rowing them 
back, the rest being unseen at the bottom of the canoes ; thus 
much only could be perceived from the castle, and this false 
landing of men, for so we may call it, was repeated that day 
several times. This made the Spaniards think the pirates in- 
tended at night to force the castle, by scaling it. This fear 
caused them to place most of their great guns on the land side, 
together with their main force, leaving the side towards the sea 
almost destitute of defence. 

Night being come, they weighed anchor, and by moonlight, 
without setting sail, committed themselves to the ebbing tide, 
which gently brought them down the river, till they were near 
the castle ; being almost over against it, they spread their sails 
with all possible haste. The Spaniards perceiving this, trans- 
ported with all speed their guns from the other side, and began 
to fire very furiously at them ; but these having a very favora- 
ble wind, were almost past danger before those of the castle could 
hurt them ; so that they lost few of their men, and received 
no considerable damage in their ships. Being out of the reach 
of the guns, Captain Morgan sent a canoe to the castle with 
some of the prisoners, and the governor thereof gave them a 
boat to return to their own homes ; but he detained the host- 
ages from Gibraltar, because the rest of the ransom for not firing 
the place was yet unpaid. Just as he departed, Captain Morgan 
ordered seven great guns with bullets to be fired against the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 127 

castle, as it were to take his leave of them, but they answered 
not so much as with a musket shot. 

Next day after, they were surprised with a great tempest, 
which forced them to cast anchor in five or six fathom water ; 
but the storm increasing, compelled them to weigh again, 
and put to sea, where they were in great danger of being 
lost ; for if they should have been cast on shore, either into 
the hands' of the Spaniards or Indians, they would certainly 
have obtained no mercy. At last, the tempest being spent, the 
wind ceased, to the great joy of the whole fleet. 

While Captain Morgan made his fortune by these pillagings, 
his companions, who were separated from his fleet at the Cape 
de Lobos, to take the ship spoken of before, endured much mis- 
ery, and were unfortunate in all their attempts. Being arrived 
at Savona, they found not Captain Morgan there, nor any of 
their companions, nor had they the fortune to find a letter 
which Captain Morgan at his departure left behind him in a 
place where in all probability they would meet with it. Thus, 
not knowing what course to steer, they concluded to pillage 
some town or other. They were in all about four hundred 
men, divided into four ships and one boat. Being ready to set 
forth, they constituted an admiral among themselves, being one 
who had behaved himself very courageously at the taking of 
Puerto Bello, named Captain Hansel. This commander at- 
tempted the taking of the town of Commana, on the continent 
of Caraccas, nigh sixty leagues to the west of the Isle de la 
Trinidad. Being arrived there, they landed their men, and 
killed some few Indians near the coast ; but approaching the 
town, the Spaniards having in their company many Indians, 
disputed the entry so briskly, that, with great loss and confu- 
sion, they were forced to retire to the ships. At last they ar- 
rived at Jamaica, where the rest of their companions who came 
with Captain Morgan mocked and jeered them for their ill 
success at Commana, often telling them, " Let us see what 
money you brought from Commana, and if it be as good silver 
as that which we bring: from Maracaibo." 



128 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Captain Morgan goes to Hispaniola to equip a new Fleet, .with Intent to pillaga 
again on the Coast of the West Indies. 

Captain Morgan perceived now that Fortune favored him, 
by giving success to all his enterprises, which occasioned him, 
as is usual in human affairs, to aspire to greater things, trusting 
she would always be constant to him. Such was the burning 
of Panama, wherein Fortune failed not to assist him. as she had 
done before, though she had led him thereto through a thousand 
difficulties. The history hereof I shall now relate, being so 
remarkable in all its circumstances, as peradventure nothing 
more deserving memory will be read by future ages. 

Captain Morgan arriving at Jamaica, found many of his offi- 
cers and soldiers reduced to their former indigency, by their 
vices and debaucheries; hence, they perpetually importuned 
him for new exploits, thereby to get something to expend still in 
wine and strumpets, as they had already done what they got 
before. Captain Morgan, willing to follow Fortune's call, 
stopped the mouths of many inhabitants of Jamaica, who were 
creditors to his men for large sums, with the hopes and prom- 
ises of greater achievements than ever, by a new expedition. 
This done, he could easily levy men for any enterprise, his 
name being so famous through all those islands, as that alone 
would readily bring him in more men than he could well em- 
ploy. He undertook therefore to equip a new fleet, for which 
he assigned the south side of Tortuga as a place of rendezvous, 
writing letters to all the expert pirates there inhabiting, as also 
to the governor, and to the planters and hifnters of Hispaniola, 
informing them of his intentions, and desiring their appearance, 
if they intended to go with him. These people upon this 
notice flocked to the place assigned, in huge numbers, with 
ships, canoes, and boats, being desirous to follow him. Many 
who had not the convenience of coming by sea, traversed the 
woods of Hispaniola, and with no small difficulties arrived 
there by land. Thus all were present at the place assigned 
and ready against October the 24th, 1670. 

Captain Morgan was not wanting to be there punctually, 
coming in his ship to port Couillon, over against the Island de 
la Vaca, the place assigned. Having gathered the greatest part 
of his fleet, he called a council to deliberate about finding pro- 
visions for so many people. Here they concluded to send four 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. x 129 

ships, and one boat with four hundred men, to the continent, in 
order to rifle some country towns and villages for all the corn 
and maize they could gather. They set sail for the continent 
towards the River de la Hacha, designing to assault the village 
called La Rancheria, usually best stored with maize of all the 
parts thereabouts. Meanwhile, Captain Morgan sent another 
party to hunt in the woods, who killed a huge number of beasts, 
and salted them; the rest remained in the ships, to clean, fit, 
and rig them, that, at the return of their fellows, all things might 
be in readiness to weigh anchor and follow their designs. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

What happened in the River de la Hacha. 

These four ships setting sail from Hispaniola, steered for the 
River de la Hacha, where they were suddenly overtaken with a 
tedious calm. Being within sight of land becalmed for some 
days, the Spaniards inhabiting along the coasts, who had per- 
ceived them to be enemies, had sufficient time to prepare them- 
selves, at least to hide the best of their goods, that without any 
care of preserving them, they might be ready to retire, if they 
proved unable to resist the pirates, by whose frequent attempts 
on those coasts they had already learned what to do in such 
cases. There was then in the river a good ship, come from 
Carthagena to load with maize, and how almost ready to de- 
part. The men of this ship endeavored to escape, but not 
being able to do *it, both they and their vessel fell into their 
hands. This was a fit purchase for them, being good part of 
what they came for. Next morning, about break of day, they 
came with their ships ashore, and landed their men, though the 
Spaniards made good resistance from a battery they had raised 
on that side, where, of necessity, they were to land ; but they 
were forced to retire to a village, whither the pirates followed 
them. Here the Spaniards rallying, fell upon them with great 
fury, and maintained a strong combat, which lasted till night ; 
but then perceiving they had lost a great number of men, which 
was no less on the pirates' side, they retired to secret places in 
the woods. 

Next day the pirates seeing them all fled,and the town left emp- 
ty of people, they pursued them as far as they could, and overr 



130 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

took a party of Spaniards, whom they made prisoners, and exer- 
cised with most cruel torments, to discover their goods: some 
were forced by intolerable tortures to confess; but others, who 
would not, were used more barbarously. Thus in fifteen days 
that they remained there, they took many prisoners, much plate 
and movables, with which booty they resolved to return to 
Hispaniola; yet not content with what they had got, they dis- 
patched some prisoners into the woods to seek for the rest of 
the inhabitants, and to demand a ransom for not burning the 
town. They answered, they had no money, nor plate ; but if 
they would be satisfied with a quantity of maize, they would 
give as much as they could. The pirates accepted this, it be- 
ing then more useful to them than ready money, and agreed 
they should pay four thousand hctnegs, or bushels of maize. 
These were brought in three days after, the Spaniards being 
desirous to rid themselves of that inhuman sort of people. 
Having laded them on board with the rest of their purchase, 
they returned to Hispaniola, to give account to their leader, 
Captain Morgan, of all they had performed. 

They had now been absent five weeks on this commission, 
which long delay occasioned Captain Morgan almost to despair 
of their return, fearing lest they were fallen into the hands of 
the Spaniards ; especially considering the place whereto they 
went could easily be relieved from Carthagena and Santa Ma- 
ria, if the inhabitants were careful to alarm the country. On 
the other side, he feared lest they should have made some great 
fortune in that voyage, and with it have escaped to some other 
place : but seeing his ships return in greater numbers than they 
departed, he resumed new courage, this sight causing both in 
him and his companions infinite joy, especially when they 
found them full laden with maize, which they much wanted, 
for the maintenance of so many people, from whom they ex- 
pected great matters under such a commander. 

Captain Morgan having divided the said maize, as also the 
flesh which the hunters brought, among his ships, according 
to the number of men, he concluded to depart ; having viewed 
beforehand every ship, and observed their being well equipped 
and clean. Thus he set sail, and stood for Cape Tiburon, 
where he determined to resolve what enterprise he should take 
in hand. No sooner were they arrived, but they met some 
other ships, newly come to join them, from Jamaica ; so that 
now their fleet consisted of thirty-seven ships, wherein were 
two thousand fighting men, beside mariners and boys. " The 
admiral hereof was mounted with twenty-two great guns, and 
six small ones of brass ; the rest carried some twenty, some 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 131 

sixteen, some eighteen, and the smallest vessel at least four ; 
besides which, they had great quantities of ammunition and 
fire-balk, with other inventions of powder. 

Captain Morgan having such a number of ships, divided the 
whole fleet into two squadrons, constituting a vice-admiral, 
and other officers of the second squadron, distinct from the 
former ; to these he gave letters patent, or commissions, to act 
all manner of hostilities against the Spanish nation, and take 
of them what ships they could, either abroad at sea, or in the 
harbors, as if they were open and declared enemies (as he 
termed it) of the king of England, his pretended master. This 
done, he called all his captains and other officers together, and 
caused them to sign some articles of agreement betwixt them, 
and in the name of all. Herein it was stipulated, that he 
should have the hundredth part of all that was gotten to him- 
self ; that every captain should draw the shares of eight men, 
for the expenses of his ship, besides his own. To the surgeon, 
besides his pay, two hundred pieces of eight, for his chest of 
medicaments ; to every carpenter, above his salary, one hun- 
dred pieces of eight. The rewards were settled in this voyage 
much higher than before : as for the loss of both legs, fifteen 
hundred pieces of eight, or fifteen slaves, the choice left to the 
party : for the loss of both hands, eighteen hundred pieces of 
eight, or eighteen slaves : for one leg, whether right or left, six 
hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves : for a hand, as much as 
for a leg ; and for the loss of an eye, one hundred pieces of 
eight, or one slave. Lastly, to him that in any battle should 
signalize him'self, either by entering first any castle, or taking 
down the Spanish colors, and setting up the English, they al- 
lotted fifty pieces of eight, for a reward ; all which extraordi- 
nary salaries and rewards to be paid out of the first spoil they 
should take, as every one should occur to be either rewarded 
or paid. 

This contract being signed, Captain Morgan commanded his 
vice-admirals and captains to put all things in order, to attempt 
one of these three places ; either Carthagena, Panama, or "Vera 
Cruz. But the lot fell on Panama, as the richest of all three, 
though this city being situate at such a distance from the North 
Sea, as they knew not well the approaches to it, they judged 
it necessary to go before hand to the Isle of St. Catherine, there 
to find some persons for guides in this enterprise : for in the 
garrison there are commonly many banditti and outlaws, be- 
longing to Panama and the neighboring places, who are very 
expert in the knowledge of that country. But before they 
proceeded, they published an act through the whole fleet, prom- 



132 THE BUCCANEEltS OF AMERICA. 

ising if they met with any Spanish vessel, the first captain who 
should take it should have for his reward the tenth part of 
what should be found in her. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Captain Morgan leaves Hispaniola, and goes to St. Catherine's, which he takes. 

Captain Morgan and his companions weighed anchor from 
the Cape of Tiburon, December 16, 1670. Four days, after, 
they arrived in sight of St. Catherine's, now in possession of 
the Spaniards again, as was said before, 'to which they com- 
monly banish the malefactors of the Spanish dominions in the 
West Indies. Here are huge quantities of pigeons, at certain 
seasons. It is watered by four rivulets, whereof two are always 
dry in summer. Here is no trade or commerce exercised by 
the inhabitants, neither do they plant more fruits thati, what arc 
necessary for human life, though the country would make very 
good plantations of tobacco, of considerable profit, were it 
cultivated. 

As soon as Captain Morgan came near the island, with his 
fleet, he sent one of his best sailing vessels to view the entry 
of the river, and see if any other ships were there, who might 
hinder him from landing ; as also fearing lest they should give 
intelligence of his arrival to the inhabitants, and prevent his 
designs. 

Next day, before sunrise, all the fleet anchored near the is- 
land, in a bay called Aguade Grande. On this bay the Span- 
iards had built a battery, mounted with four pieces of cannon. 
Captain Morgan landed about one thousand men in divers 
squadrons, marching through the woods, though they had no 
other guides than a few of his own men, who had been there 
before, under Mansvelt : the same day they came to a place 
where the governor sometimes resided ; here they found a bat- 
tery called the Platform, but nobody in it, the Spaniards having 
retired to the lesser island, which, as was said before, is so near 
the great one, that a short bridge only may conjoin them. 

This lesser island was so well fortified with forts and batte- 
ries round it, as might seem impregnable : hereupon, as soon as 
the Spaniards perceived the pirates approach, they fired on them 
so furiously, that they could advance nothing that day, but 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 133 

were content to retreat, and take up their rest in the open 
fields, which was not strange to these people, being sufficiently- 
used to such kind of repose. What most afflicted them was 
hunger, having not ate any thing that whole day. About 
midnight, it rained so hard, that they had much ado to bear it, 
the greatest part of them having no other clothes than a pair 
of seaman's trowsers, or breeches, and a shirt, without shoes 
or stockings. In this great extremity, they pulled down a few 
thatched houses to make fires withal ; in a word, they were in 
such a condition, that one hundred men, indifferently well 
armed, might easily that night have torn them all in pieces. 
Next morning, about break of day, the rain ceased, and they 
dried their arms, and marched on ; but soon after it rained 
afresh^ rather harder than before, as if the skies were melted 
into waters;, which .kept them from advancing towards the 
forts, whence the Spaniards continually fired at them. 

The pirates were now reduced to great affliction and danger, 
through the hardness of the weather, their own nakedness, and 
great hunger ; for a small relief hereof, they found in the fields 
an old horse, lean, and full of scabs and blotches, with galled 
back and sides : this they instantly killed and flayed, and 
divided in small pieces among themselves, as far as it would 
reach, (for many could' not get a morsel,) which they roasted 
and devoured without salt or bread, more like ravenous wolves 
than men. The rain not ceasing, Captain Morgan perceived 
their minds to relent, hearing many of them say they would 
return on board. Among these fatigues of mind and body, he 
thought convenient to use some sudden remedy : to this effect, 
he commanded a canoe to be rigged in haste, and colors of 
truce to be hung out. This canoe he sent to the Spanish 
governor, with this message : " That if within a few hours he 
delivered not himself and all his men into his hands, he did by 
that messenger swear to him, and all those that were in his 
company, he would most certainly put them to the sword, 
without granting quarter to any." 

In the afternoon the canoe returned with this answer : " That 
the governor desired two hours time to deliberate with his offi- 
cers about it, which being past, he would give his positive an- 
swer." The time being elapsed, the governor sent two canoes 
with white colors, and two persons, to treat with Captain Mor- 
gan ; but before they landed, they demanded of the pirates two 
joersons as hostages. These were readily granted by Captain 
Morgan, who delivered them two of his captains for a pledge 
of the security required : with this the Spaniards propounded 
to Captain Morgan, that the governor, in a full assembly, had 
12 



134 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

resolved to deliver up the island, not being provided with suffi- 
cient forces to defend it against such an armada : but, withal, 
he desired Captain Morgan would be pleased to use a certain 
stratagem of war, for the better saving of his own credit, and 
the reputation of his officers both abroad and at home, which 
should be as follows : That Captain Morgan would come with 
his troops by night, to the bridge that joined the lesser island 
to the great one, and there attack the fort of St. Jerom : that 
at the same time all his fleet would draw near the castle of 
Santa Teresa, and attack it by land, landing in the mean while 
more troops, near the battery of St. Matthew : that these troops 
being nearly landed, should by this means intercept the gov- 
ernor as he endeavored to pass to St. Jerom's fort, and then 
take him prisoner; using the formality, as if they forced him 
to deliver the castle ; and that he would Jead the. English into 
it, under color of being his own troops. That on both sides, 
there should be continual firing, but without bullets, or at least 
into the air, so that no side might be hurt. That thus having 
obtained two such considerable forts, the chiefest of the isle, 
he need not take care for the rest, which must fall, of course, 
into his hands. 

These propositions were granted by Captain Morgan, on con- 
dition they should see them faithfully observed; otherwise 
they should be used with the utmost rigor: this they promised 
to do, and took their leave, to give account of their negotia- 
tion to the governor. Presently after. Captain Morgan com- 
manded the whole fleet to enter the port, and his men to be 
ready to assault that night the castle of St. Jerom. Thus the 
false battle began, with incessant firing from both the castles, 
against the ships, but without bullets, as was agreed : then the 
pirates landed, and assaulted by night the lesser island, which 
they took, as also both the fortresses ; forcing the Spaniards, 
in appearance, to fly to the church. Before this assault, Cap- 
tain Morgan sent word to the governor, that he should keep all 
his men together in a body ; otherwise, if the pirates met any 
straggling Spaniards in the streets, they should certainly shoot 
them. 

This island being taken by this unusual stratagem, and all 
things put in order, the pirates made a new war against the 
poultry, cattle, and all sorts of victuals they conld find, for 
some days ; scarce thinking of anything else than to kill, 
roast, and eat, and make what good cheer they could. If wood 
was wanting, they pulled down the houses, and made fires with 
the timber, as had been done before in the field. Next day 
they numbered all the prisoners they had taken upon the island, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 135 

which were found to be in all four hundred and fifty-nine per-' 
sons, men, women and children, viz. : one hundred and ninety 
soldiers of the garrison ; forty inhabitants, who were married ; 
forty-three children ; thirty-four slaves, belonging to the king; 
with eight children ; eight banditti ; thirty-nine negroes, be- 
longing to private persons ; with twenty-seven female blacks, 
and thirty-four children. The pirates disarmed all the Span- 
iards, and sent them out immediately to the plantations to seek 
for provisions, leaving the women in the church, to exercise 
their devotions. 

Soon after they reviewed the whole island, and all the for- 
tresses thereof, which they found to be nine in all, viz. : the Fort 
of St. Jerom, next the bridge, had eight great guns, of twelve, 
six, and eight pounds carriage, with six pipes of muskets, ev- 
ery pipe containing ten muskets. Here they found still sixty 
muskets, with sufficient powder, and other ammunition. The 
second fortress, called St. Matthew, had three guns, of eight 
pounds each : the third, and chiefest, named Santa Teresa, had 
twenty great guns, of eighteen, twelve, eight, and six pounds; 
with ten pipes of muskets, like those before, and ninety mus- 
kets remaining, besides other ammunition. This castle was 
built with stone and mortar, with very thick walls, and a large 
ditch round it, twenty feet deep, which, though it was dry, yet 
was very hard to get 'over. Here was no entry, but through 
one door, to the middle of the castle. Within it was a mount 
almost inaccessible, with four pieces of cannon at ,the top ; 
whence they could shoot directly into the port : on the sea- 
side it was impregnable, by reason of the rocks round it, and 
the sea beating furiously upon them: to the land it was so 
commodiously seated on a mountain, as there was no access to 
it but by a path three or four feet broad. The fourth fortress 
was narrred St. AugUstine, having three guns of eight and six 
pounds. The fifth, named La Plattaformade la Conception, 
had only two guns, of eight pounds. The sixth, by name San 
Salvador, had likewise no more than two guns. The seventh, 
called Plattaforma de los Artilleros, had also two guns. The 
eighth, called Santa Cruz, had three guns. The ninth, called 
St. Joseph's Fort, had six guns, of twelve and eight pounds, 
besides two pipes of muskets, and sufficient ammunition. 

In the storehouses were above thirty thousand pounds of 
powder, with all other ammunition, which was carried by the 
pirates on board : all the guns were stopped and nailed, and 
the fortresses demolished ; except that of St. Jerom, where the 
pirates kept guard and resistance. Captain Morgan inquired 
for any banditti from Panama or Puerto Bello, and three were 



136 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

brought him, who pretended to be very expert in the avenues 
of those parts. He asked them to be his guides, and show 
him the securest ways to Panama, which if they performed, he 
promised them equal shares in the plunder of that expedition, 
and their liberty when they arrived in Jamaica. These propo- 
sitions the banditti readily accepted, promising to serve him 
very faithfully, especially one of the three, who was the greatest 
rogue, thief, and assassin among them, and who had deserved 
rather to be broken alive on the wheel, than punished with 
serving in a garrrison : this wicked fellow had a great ascend- 
ant over the other two, and domineered over them as he pleas- 
ed, they not daring to disobey his orders. 

Captain Morgan commanded four ships and one boat to be 
equipped, and provided with necessaries, to go and take the 
Castle of Chagre, on the river of that name ; neither would he 
go himself with his whole fleet, lest the Spaniards should be 
jealous of his further design on Panama. In these vessels he 
embarked four hundred men, to put in execution these his or- 
ders : meanwhile, himself remained in St. Catherine's, with 
the rest of the fleet, expecting to hear of their success. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Captain Morgan takes the Castle of Chagre, with Four Hundred Men sent to 
this Purpose from St. Catherine's. 

Captain Morgan sending this little fleet to Chagre, chose for 
vice-admiral thereof one Captain Brodely, who had been long 
in those quarters, and committed many robberies on the Span- 
iards, when Mansvelt took the Isle of St. Catherine, as was 
before related ; and therefore was thought a fit person for this 
exploit, his actions likewise having rendered him famous among 
the pirates, and their enemies the Spaniards. Captain Brodely 
being made commander, in three days after his departure ar- 
rived in sight of the said castle of Chagre, by the Spaniards 
called St. Lawrence. This castle is built on a high mountain, 
at the entry of the river, surrounded with strong palisadoes, or 
wooden walls, filled with earth, which secures them as well as 
the best wall of stone or brick. The top of this ipountain is, 
in a manner, divided into two parts, between which is a ditch 
thirty feet deep. The castle hath but one entry, and that by 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 137 

a draw bridge over this ditch. To the land it has four bastions, 
and to the sea two more. The south part is totally inaccessi- 
ble, through the cragginess of the mountain ; the north is sur- 
rounded by the river, which here is very broad. At the foot of 
the castle, or rather, mountain, is a strong fort, with eight great 
guns, commanding the entry of the river. Not much lower 
are two other batteries, each of six pieces-, to defend likewise 
the mouth of the river. At one side of the castle are two great 
storehouses of all sorts of warlike ammunition and merchan- 
dise, brought thither from the inland country : near these houses 
is a high pais of stairs hewn out of the rock, to mount to- the 
top of the castle. On the west is a small port, not above seven 
or eight fathoms deep, fit for small vessels, and of very good 
anchorage ; besides, before the castle, at the entry of the river 
is a great rock, scarce to be descried but at low tides. 

No sooner had the Spaniards perceived the pirates, but they 
fired incessantly at them with the biggest of their guns. They 
came to an anchor in a small port, about a league from the cas- 
tle. Next morning, very early, they went ashore, and marched 
through the woods to attack the castle on that side. This 
march lasted till two of the clock in the afternoon, before they 
could reach the castle, by reason of the difficulties of the way, 
and its mire and dirt ; and though their guides served them 
very exactly, yet they came so nigh the castle at first, that they 
lost many of their men by its shot, they being in an open place, 
without covert. This much perplexed the pirates', not know- 
ing what course to take ; for on that side, of necessity, they 
must make the assault, and being uncovered from head to 
foot, they could not advance one step without danger : besides 
that, the castle, both for its situation and strength, made them 
much doubt of success. But to give it over they dared not, 
lest they should be reproached by their companions. 

At last, after many doubts and disputes, resolving to hazard 
the assault and their lives desperately, they advanced towards 
the castle with their swords in one hand and fire-balls in the 
other. The Spaniards defended themselves very briskly, ceas- ' 
ing not to fire at them continually ; crying- withal, " Come on, 
ye English dogs, enemies to God and our king ; and let your 
other companions that are behind come on too, ye shall not go 
to Panama this bout." The pirates making some trial to climb 
the walls, were forced to retreat, resting themselves till night. 
This being come, they returned to the assault, to try by the 
help of their fire-balls to destroy the pales before the wall ; and 
while they were about it, there happened a very remarkable 
accident, which occasioned their victory. One of the pirates 
12* 



138 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

being wounded with an arrow in his back, which pierced his 
body through, he pulled it out boldly at the side of his breast, 
and winding a little cotton about it, he put it into his musket, 
and shot it back to the castle ; but the cotton being kindled 
by the powder, fired two or three houses in the castle, being 
thatched with palm-leaves, which the Spaniards perceived not so 
soon as was necessary; for this fire meeting with a parcel of 
powder, blew it up, thereby causing great ruin, and no less 
consternation to the Spaniards, who were not able to put a 
stop to it, not having seen it time enough. 

The pirates perceiving the effect of the arrow, and the mis- 
fortunes of the Spaniards, were infinitely glad ; and while they 
were busied in quenching the fire, which caused a great confu- 
sion, for want-of water, the pirates took this opportunity, setting 
fire likewise to the palisadoes. The fire thus seen at once in 
several parts about the castle, gave them great advantage 
against the Spaniards, many breaches being made by the fire 
among the pales, great heaps of earth falling into the ditch. 
Then the pirates climbing up, got over into the castle, though 
those Spaniards, who were not busy about the fire, cast down 
many flaming pots full of combustible matter, and odious smells, 
which destroyed many of the English. 

The Spaniards, with all their resistance, could not hinder the 
palisadoes from being burnt down before midnight. Mean- 
while the pirates continued in their intention of taking the 
castle ; and though the fire was very great, they would creep 
on the ground, as near as they could, and shoot amidst the 
flames against the Spaniards on the other side, and thus killed 
many from the walls. When day was come, they observed all 
the movable earth that lay betwixt the pales to be fallen into the 
ditch ; so that now those within the castle lay equally exposed 
to them without, as had been on the contrary before; where- 
upon the pirates continued shooting very furiously, and killed 
many Spaniards ; for the governor had charged them to make 
good those posts, answering to the heaps of earth fallen into the 
• ditch, and caused the artillery to be transported to the breaches. 

The fire within the castle still continuing, the pirates from 
abroad did what they could to hinder its progress, by shooting 
incessantly against it : one party of them was employed only 
for this, while another watched all the motions of the Span- 
iards. About noon the English' gained a breach, which the 
governor himself defended with twenty-five soldiers. Here 
was made a very courageous resistance by the Spaniards, with 
muskets, pikes, stones, and swords ; but through all these the 
pirates fought their way till they gained the castle. The Span- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 139 

iards, who remained alive, cast themselves down from the 
casile into the sea, choosing rather to die thus (few or none 
surviving the fall) than to ask quarter for their lives. The gov- 
ernor himself retreated to the corps de garde, before which 
were placed two pieces of cannon ; here he still defended him- 
self, not demanding any quarter, till he was killed with a mus- 
ket shot in the head. 

The governor being dead, and the corps de garde surren- 
dering, they found remaining in it alive thirty men, whereof 
scarce ten were not wounded; these informed the pirates that 
eight or nine of their soldiers had deserted, and were gone to 
Panama, to carry news of their arrival and invasion. These 
thirty men alone remained of three hundred and fourteen where- 
with the castle was garrisoned, among which not one officer 
was found alive. These were all made prisoners, and com- 
pelled to tell whatever they knew of their designs and enter- 
prises. Among other things, that the governor of Panama had 
notice sent him three weeks ago from Carthagena, that the 
English were equipping a fleet at Hispaniola, with a design to 
take Panama ; and besides, that this had been discovered by 
a deserter from the pirates at the River de la Hacha, where 
they had victualled. That upon this, the governor had sent 
one hundred and sixty-four men to strengthen the garrison of 
that castle, with much provision and ammunition ; the ordinary 
garrison whereof was only one hundred and fifty men, but these 
made up two hundred and fourteen men, very well armed. Be- 
sides this, they declared that the governor of Panama had 
placed several ambuscades along the river of Chagre ; and that 
he waited for them in the open fields of Panama with three 
thousand six hundred men. 

The taking of this castle cost the pirates excessively dear, 
in comparison to what they were wont to lose, and their toil 
and labor was greater than at the conquest of the Isle of St. 
Catherine ; for numbering their men, they had lost above one 
hundred, besides seventy wounded. They commanded the 
Spanish prisoners to cast the dead bodies of their own men 
from the top of the mountain to the sea-side, and to bury them. 
The wounded were carried to the church, of which they made 
a hospital, and where also they shut up the women. Thus it 
was likewise turned into a place of prostitution, the pirates 
ceasing not to defile the bodies of those afflicted widows with 
all manner of insolent actions and threats. ' 

Captain Morgan remained not long behind at St. Catherine's, 
after taking the castle of Chagre, of which he had notice pres- 
ently j but before he departed, he embarked all the provision 



140 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

could be found, with much maize, or Indian wheat, and cazave, 
whereof also is made bread in those parts. He transported 
great store of provisions to the garrison of Chagre, whenceso- 
ever they could be got. At a certain place they cast into the 
sea all the gnns belonging thereto, designing to return, and 
leave that island well garrisoned to the perpetual possession of 
the pirates ; but he ordered all the houses and forts to be fired, 
except the castle of St. Teresa, which he judged to be the 
strongest and securest wherein to fortify himself at his return 
from Panama. He carried with him all the prisoners of the 
island, and then sailed for Chagre, where he arrived in eight 
days. Here the joy of the whole fleet was so great, when they 
spied the English colors on the castle, that they minded not 
their way into the river, so that they lost four ships at the 
entry thereof, Captain Morgan's being one ; yet they saved all 
the men and goods. The ships, too, had been preserved, if a 
strong northerly wind had not risen, which cast them on the 
rock at the entry of the river. 

Captain Morgan was brought into the castle with great ac- 
clamations of all the pirates, both of those within and those 
newly come. Having heard the manner of the conquest, he 
commanded all the prisoners to work, and repair what was 
necessary, especially to set up new palisadoes round the forts 
of the castle. There were still in the river some Spanish ves- 
sels, called chatten, serving for transportation of merchandise 
up and down the river, and to Puerto Bello and Nicaragua. 
These commonly carry two great guns of iron, and four small 
ones of brass. These vessels they seized, with four little ships 
they found there, and all the canoes. In the castle they left a 
garrison of five hundred men, and in the ships in the river one 
hundred and fifty more. This done, Captain Morgan departed for 
Panama at the head of twelve hundred men. He carried little 
provisions with him, hoping to provide himself sufficiently 
among the Spaniards, whom he knew to lie in ambuscade bv 
the way. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 141 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Captain Morgan departs from Chagre, at the Head of Twelve Hundred Men, to 
take the City of Panama. 

Captain Morgan set forth from the castle of Chagre, towards 
Panama, August 18, 1670. He had with him twelve hundred 
men, five boats laden with artillery, .and thirty-two canoes. 
The first day they sailed only six leagues, and came to a place 
called De los Bracos. Here a party of his men went ashore, 
only to sleep and stretch their limbs, being almost crippled with 
lying too much crowded in the boats. Having rested awhile, 
they went abroad to seek victuals in the neighboring planta- 
tions; but they could find none, the Spaniards being fled, and 
carrying with them all they had. This day, being the first of 
their journey, they had such scarcity of victuals, as the greatest 
part were forced to pass with only a pipe of tobacco, without 
any other refreshment. 

Next day, about evening, they came to a place called Cruz 
de Juan Gallego. Here they were compelled to leave their 
boats and canoes, the river being very dry for want of rain, 
apd many trees having fallen into it. 

The guides told them, that about two leagues farther the 
country would be very good to continue the journey by land ; 
hereupon they left one hundred and sixty men on board the 
boats, to defend them, that they might serve for a refuge in 
necessity. 

Next morning, being the third day, they all went ashore, ex- 
cept those who were to keep the boats. To these Captain 
Morgan gave order, under great penalties, that no man, on any 
pretext whatever, should dare to leave the boats, and go ashore ; 
fearing lest they should be surprised by an ambuscade of Span- 
iards in the neighboring woods, which appeared so thick, as to 
seem almost impenetrable. This morning beginning their 
march, the ways proved so bad, that Captain Morgan thought 
it more convenient to transport some of the men in canoes 
(though with great labor) to a place farther up the river, called 
Cedro Bueno. Thus they reembarked, and the canoes returned 
for the rest ; so that about night they got all together at the 
■said place. The pirates much desired to meet some Spaniards 
or Indians, hoping to fill their bellies with their provisions, 
being reduced to extremity and hunger. 

The fourth day the greatest part of the pirates marched by 



142 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

land, being led by one of the guides ; the rest went by water 
farther up, being conducted by another guide, who always went 
before them, to discover, on both sides the river, the ambus- 
cades. These had also spies, who were very dexterous to give 
notice of all accidents, or of the arrival of the pirates, six hours, 
at least, before they came. This day, about noon, they came 
near a post, called Torna Cavallos ; here the guide of the ca- 
noes cried out, that he perceived an ambuscade. His voice 
caused infinite joy to all the pirates, hoping to find some pro- 
visions to satiate their extreme hunger. Being come to the 
place, they found nobody in it, the Spaniards being fled, and 
leaving nothing behind but a few leathern bags, all empty, and 
a few crums of bread, scattered on the ground, where they 
had eaten. Being angry at this, they pulled down a few little 
huts which the Spaniards had made, and fell to eating the 
leathern bags, to allay the ferment of their stomachs, which 
was now so sharp, as to gnaw their very bowels. Thus they 
made a huge banquet upon these bags of leather, divers quar- 
rels arising concerning the greatest shares. By the bigness of 
the place, they conjectured about five hundred Spaniards had 
been there, whom, finding no victuals, they were now infinitely 
desirous to meet, intending to devour some of them, rather 
than perish.' 

Having feasted themselves with those pieces of leather, they 
marched on, till they came about night to another post, called 
Torna Munni : here they found another ambfiscade, but as bar- 
ren as the former. They searched the neighboring woods, but 
could not find any thing to eat, the Spaniards having been so 
provident, as not to leave, any where, the least crura of suste- 
nance ; whereby, the pirates were now brought to this extrem- 
ity. Here, again, he was happy that had reserved since noon 
any bit of leather, to make his supper of, drinking after it a 
good draught of water, for his comfort. Some, who never 
were out of their mothers' kitchens, may ask, how these pirates 
could eat and digest those pieces of leather, so hard and dry. 
Whom I answer, that could they once experiment what hun- 
ger, or rather famine, is, they would find the way as the pirates 
did. For these first sliced it in pieces, then they beat it be- 
tween two stones, and rubbed it, often dipping it in water, to 
make it supple and tender : lastly, they scraped off the hair, 
and broiled it. Being thus cooked, they cut it into small mor- 
sels, and ate it, helping it down with frequent gulps of water, 
which, by good fortune, they had at hand. 

The fifth day, about noon, they came to a place called Bar- 
baco : here they found traces of another ambuscade, but the 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 143 

place, totally as unprovided as the former. At a small distance 
were several plantations, which they searched very narrowly, but 
could not find any person, animal, or other thing, to relieve their 
extreme hunger. Finally, having ranged about, and searched 
a long time, they found a grot, which seemed to be but lately 
hewn out of a rock, where were two sacks of meal, wheat, and 
like things, with two great jars of wine, and certain fruits called 
plalanoes. Captain Morgan, knowing some of his men were 
now almost dead with hunger, and fearing the same of the rest, 
caused what was found to be distributed among them who 
were in greatest necessity. Having refreshed themselves with 
these victuals, they marched anew with greater courage than 
ever. Such as were weak were put into the canoes, and those 
commanded to land that were in them before. Thus they 
prosecuted their journey till late at night ; when coming to a 
plantation, they took up their rest, hut without^ eating any 
thing ; for the Spaniards, as before, had swept away all manner 
of provisions. 

The sixth day they continued their march, part by land and 
part by water : howbeit, they were constrained to rest very 
frequently, both for the ruggedness of the way, and their ex- 
treme weakness, which they endeavored to relieve by eating 
leaves of trees and green herbs, or grass ; such was their mis- 
erable condition. This day, at noon, they arrived at a planta- 
tion, where was a barn full of maize : immediately they beat 
down the doors, and ate it dry, as much as they could devour ; 
then they distributed a great quantity, giving every man a good 
allowance. Thus provided, and prosecuting their journey for 
about an hour, they came to another ambuscade. This they 
no sooner discovered, but they threw away their maize, with 
the sudden hopes of finding all things in abundance : but they 
were much deceived, meeting neither Indians nor victuals, nor 
any thing else : but they saw, on the other side of the river, 
about one hundred Indians, who all fleeing, escaped. Some 
few pirates leaped into the river to cross it, and try to take any 
of the Indians, but in vain ; for being much more nimble than 
the pirates, they not only baffled them, but killed two or three 
with their arrows ; hooting at them, and crying, " Ha ! perros, 
a la savana, a la savana." "Ha! ye dogs, go to the plain, 
go to the plain." 

This day they could advance no farther, being necessitated 
to pass the river, to continue their march on the other side. 
Hereupon they reposed for that night, though their sleep was 
not profound ; for great murmurings were made at Captain 
Morgan, and his conduct; some being desirous to return home, t 



144 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

while others would rather die there than go back a step from 
their undertaking : others, who had greater courage, laughed 
and joked at their discourses. Meanwhile, they had a guide, 
who much comforted them, saying, it would not now be long 
before they met with people from whom they should reap some 
considerable advantage. 

The seventh day, in the morning, they made clean their 
arms, and every one discharged his pistol, or musket, with- 
out bullet, to try their fire-locks: this done, they crossed the 
river, leaving the post where they had rested, called Santa 
Cruz, and at noon they arrived at a village called Cruz. Being 
yet far from the place, they perceived much smoke from the 
chimneys: the sight hereof gave them great joy, and hopes of 
finding people, and plenty of good cheer. Thus they went on 
as fast as they could, encouraging one another, saying, " There 
is smoke comes out of every house ; they are making good 
fires, to roast and boil what we are to eat ;" and the like. 

At length they arrived there, all sweating and panting, but 
found no person in the town, nor any thing eatable to re- 
fresh themselves, except good fires, which they wanted not ? 
for the Spaniards, before their departure, had every one set fire 
to his own house, except the king's storehouses and stables. 

They had not left behind them any beast, alive or dead, 
which much troubled their minds, not finding any thing but a 
few cats and dogs, which they immediately killed, and devoured. 
At last, in the king's stables, they found, by good fortune, 
fifteen or sixteen jars of Peru wine, and a leathern sack, full 
of bread. No sooner had they drank of this wine, when they 
fell sick, almost every man : this made them think the wine 
was poisoned, which caused a new consternation in the whole 
camp, judging themselves now to be irrecoverably lost. But 
the true reason was, their want of sustenance, and the manifold 
sorts of trash they had eaten. Their sickness was so great, as 
caused them to remain there till the next morning, without be- . 
ing able to prosecute their journey in the afternoon. This vil- 
lage is seated in nine degrees two minutes north latitude, dis- 
tant from the River Chagre twenty-six Spanish leagues, and 
eight from Panama. This is the last place to which boats or 
canoes can come ; for which reason they built here storehouses 
for all sorts of merchandise, which to and from Panama are 
transported on the backs of mules. 

Here Captain Morgan was forced to leave his canoes, and 
land all his men, though never so weak ; but lest the canoes 
should be surprised, or take up too many men for their defence, 
he sent them all back to the. place where the boats were, except 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 145 

one, which he hid, that it might serve to carry intelligence. 
Many of the Spaniards and Indians of this village having fled 
to the near plantations, Captain Morgan ordered that none 
should go out of the village, except companies of one hundred 
together, fearing lest the enemy should take an advantage upon 
his men. Notwithstanding one party contravened these orders, 
being tempted with the desire of victuals : but they were soon 
glad to fly into the town again, being assaulted with great fury 
by some Spaniards and Indians, who carried one of them away 
prisoner. Thus the vigilancy and care of Captain Morgan were 
not sufficient to prevent every accident. 

The eighth day in the morning, Captain Morgan sent two 
hundred men before the body of his army, to discover the way 
to Panama, and any ambuscades therein ; the path being so 
narrow, that only ten or twelve persons could march abreast, 
and often not so many. After ten hours' march, they came to 
a place called Quebrada Obscura ; here, all on a sudden, three 
or four thousand arrows were shot at them, they not perceiving 
whence they came, or who shot them ; though they presumed 
it was from a high rocky mountain, from one side to the other, 
whereon was a grot capable of but one horse, or other beast 
laded. This multitude of arrows much alarmed the pirates, 
especially because they could not discover whence they were 
discharged. At last, seeing no more arrows, they marched a 
little farther, and entered a wood : here they perceived some 
Indians to fly as fast as they could, to take the advantage of 
another post, thence to observe their march ; yet there remained 
one troop of Indians on the place, resolved to fight, and de- 
fend themselves, which they did with great courage, till their 
captain fell down wounded ; who, though he despaired of life, 
yet his valor being greater than his strength, would ask no 
quarter, but endeavoring to raise himself, with undaunted mind 
laid hold of his azagayo, or javelin, and struck at one of the 
pirates ; but before he could second the blow, he was shot to 
death. This was, also, the fate of many of his companions, 
who, like good soldiers, lost their lives with their captain x for 
the defence of their country. 

The pirates endeavored to take some of the Indians prison- 
ers, but they being swifter than the pirates, every one escaped, 
leaving eight pirates dead, and ten wounded : yea, had the In- 
dians been more dexterous in military affairs, they might have 
defended that passage, and not let one man pass. A little while 
after, they came to a large champaign, open, and full of fine 
meadows : hence they could perceive at a distance before them 
some Indians, on the top of a mountain, near the way by which 
13 



146 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

they were to pass : they sent fifty men, the nimblest they hnd, 
to try to catch any of them, and force them to discover their 
companions ; but all in vain ; for they escaped by their nim- 
bleness, and. presently showed themselves in another place, 
hallooing to the English, and crying, " A la savana, a la sa- 
vana, cornudos, perros In^leses:" that is, "To the plain, to 
the plain, yc cuckolds, ye English dogs.*' Meanwhile the ten 
pirates, that were wounded, were dressed and plastered up. 

Here was a wood, and on each side a mountain. The In- 
dians possessed themselves of one, and the pirates of the other. 
Captain Morgan was persuaded the Spaniards had placed an 
ambuscade there, it lying so conveniently : hereupon he sent 
two hundred men to search it. The Spaniards and Indians, 
perceiving the pirates descend the mountain, did so too, as if 
they designed to attack them ; but being got into the wood, 
out of sight of the pirates, they were seen no more, leaving the 
passage open. 

About night fell a great rain, which caused the pirates to 
march the faster, and seek for houses to preserve their arms 
from being wet ; but the Indians had set lire to every one. and 
driven away all their cattle, that the pirates, finding neither 
houses nor victuals, might be constrained to return : but, after 
a diligent search, they found a few shepherds' huts, but in them 
nothing to eat. These not holding many men, they placed in 
them, out of every company, a small number, who kept the 
arms of the rest: those who remained in the open field en- 
dured much hardship that night, the rain not ceasing till 
morning. 

Next morning, about break of day, being the ninth of this 
tedious journey, Captain Morgan marched on while the fresh 
air of the morning lasted ; for the clouds, hanging yet over then- 
heads, were much more favorable than the scorching rays of 
the sun, the way being now more difficult than before. After 
two hours' march, they discovered about twenty Spaniards, 
who observed their motions: they endeavored to catch some 
of them, but could not, they suddenly disappearing, and ab- 
sconding themselves in caves among the rocks, unknown to 
the pirates. At last, ascending a high mountain, they discov- 
ered the South Sea. This happy sight, as if it were the end 
of their labors, caused infinite joy among them : hence they 
could descry, also, one ship and six boats, which were set 
forth from Panama, and sailed towards the islands of Tovago 
and Tovagilla. Then they came to a vale where they found 
much cattle, whereof they killed good store : here, while some 
killed and flayed cows, horses, bulls, and chiefly asses, of which 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 147 

there were most, others kindled fires, and got wood to roast 
them : then cutting the flesh in^to convenient pieces, or gobbets, 
they threw them into the fire, and half carbonadoed or roasted, 
they devoured them, with incredible haste and appetite ; snch 
was their hunger, as they more resembled«cannibals than Eu- 
ropeans, the blood many times running down from their beards 
to'their waists. 

Having satisfied their hunger, Captain Morgan ordered them 
to continue the march. Here, again, he sent before the main 
body fifty men to take some prisoners, if they could ; for he 
was much concerned, that in nine days he could not meet one 
person to inform him of the condition and forces of the Span- 
iards. About evening they discovered about two hundred 
Spaniards, who hallooed to the pirates, but they understood 
not what they said. A little while after they came in sight of 
the highest steeple of Panama ; this they no sooner discovered, 
but they showed signs of extreme joy, casting up their hats 
into the air, leaping and shouting, just as if they had already 
obtained the victory, and accomplished their designs. All their 
trumpets sounded, and drums beat, in token of this alacrity of 
their minds. Thus they pitched their camp for that night, 
with general content of the whole army, waiting with impa- 
tience for the morning, when they intended to attack the city. 
This evening appeared fifty horse, who came out of the city, 
on the noise of the drums and trumpets, to observe, as it was 
thought, their motions ; they came almost within musket shot 
of the army, with a trumpet that sounded marvellously well. 
Those on horseback hallooed aloud to the, pirates, and threat- 
ened them, saying, "Perros ! nos veremos ; " that is, " Ye dogs ! 
we shall meet ye." Having made this menace, they returned 
to the city, except only seven or eight horsemen, who hovered 
thereabouts to watch their motions. Immediately after the city 
fired, and ceased not to play their biggest guns all night long 
against the camp, but with little or no harm to the pirates, 
whom they could not easily reach. Now also the two hundred 
Spaniards, whom the pirates had seen in the afternoon, appeared 
again, making a show of blocking up the passages, that no pi- 
rates might escape their hands. But the pirates, though in a 
manner besieged, instead of fearing their blockades, as soon as 
they had placed sentinels about their camp, opened their satch- 
els, and, without any napkins or plates, fell to eating, very 
heartily, the pieces of bulls' and horses' flesh which they had 
reserved since noon. This done they laid themselves dawn 
to sleep on the grass, with great repose and satisfaction, ex- 
pecting only, with impatience, the dawning of the next day. 



148 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



The tenth day, betimes in the morning, they put all their 
men in order, and, with drums and trumpets sounding, inarched 
directly towards the city; bnt one of the guides desired Cap- 
tain Morgan not to take the common highway, lest they should 
find in it many ambuscades. He took his advice, and chose 
another way through the wood, though very irksome and diffi- 
cult. The Spaniards, perceiving the pirates had taken anotlfer 
way they scarce had thought on, were compelled to leave their 
stops and hatteries, and come out to meet them. The gov- 
ernor of Panama put his forces in order, consisting of two squad- 
rons, four regiments of foot, and a huge number of wild bulls, 
which were driven by a great number of Indians, with some 
negroes, and others to help them. 

The pirates, now upon their march, came to the top of a 
little hill, whence they had a large prospect of the city and 
champaign country underneath. Here they discovered the forces 
of the people of Panama, in battle array, to be so numerous, 
that they were surprised with fear, much doubting the fortune 
of the day. 'Yea, few or none there were but wished them- 
selves at home, or at least free from the obligation of that 
engagement, it so nearly concerning their lives. Having been 
some time wavering in their minds, they at last reflected on 
the straits they had brought themselves into, and that now they 
must either fight resolutely, or die ; for no quarter could be ex- 
pected from an enemy on whom they had committed so many 
cruelties. Hereupon, they encouraged one another, resolving 
to conquer, or spend the last drop of blood. Then they divided 
themselves into three battalions, sending before two hundred 
Buccaneers, who were very dexterous at their guns. Then de- 
scending the hill, they marched directly towards the Spaniards, 
who in a spacious field waited for their coming. As soon 
as, they drew nigh, the Spaniards began to shout and cry, 
"Viva el rey /" "God save the king! " and immediately their 
horse moved against the pirates. But the fields being full of 
quags, and soft underfoot, they could not wheel about as they 
desired. The two hundred Buccaneers, who went before, each 
putting one knee to the ground, began the battle briskly with 
a full volley of shot : the Spaniards defended themselves coura- 
geously, doing all they could to disorder the pirates. Their 
foot endeavored to second the horse, but were constrained by 
the pirates to leave them. Finding themselves bafiied, they 
attempted to drive the bulls against them behind, to put them 
into disorder; but the wild cattle ran away, frighted with the 
noise of the battle ; only some few broke through the English 
companies, and only tore the colors in pieces, while the Bucca- 
neers shot every one of -them dead. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 149 

The battle having continued two hours, the greatest part of 
the Spanish horse was ruined, and almost all killed ; the rest 
fled, which the foot seeing, and that they could not possibly 
prevail, they discharged the shot they had in their muskets, 
and throwing them down, fled away, every one as he could. 
The pirates could not follow them, being too much harassed 
and wearied with their long journey. Many, not being able 
to fly whither they desired, hid themselves, for that present, 
among the shrubs of the sea-side, but very unfortunately; for 
most of them, being found by the pirates, were instantly killed, 
without any quarter. Some religious men were brought pris- 
oners before Captain Morgan ; but he, being deaf to their cries, 
commanded them all to be pistolled, which was done. Soon af- 
ter, they brought a captain to him, whom he examined very strict- 
ly ; particularly, wherein consisted the forces of those of Panama. 
He answered, their whole strength consisted in four hundred 
horse, twenty-four companies of foot, each of one hundred men 
complete ; sixty Indians, and some negroes, who were to drive 
two thousand wild bulls upon the English, and thus, by breaking 
their files, put them into a total disorder. Besides that, in the 
city they had made trenches, and raised batteries in several 
places, in all which they had placed many guns; and that at 
the entry of the highway, leading to the city, they had built 
a fort, mounted with eight great brass guns, defended by 
fifty men. • 

Captain Morgan, having heard this, gave orders instantly to 
march another way ; but first he made a review of his men, 
whereof he found both killed and wounded a considerable 
number, and much greater than had been believed. Of the 
Spaniards were found six hundred dead on the place, besides 
the wounded and prisoners. The pirates, nothing discouraged, 
seeing their number so diminished, but rather filled, with great- 
er pride ; perceiving what huge advantage they had obtained 
against their enemies, having rested some time, prepared to 
march courageously towards the city, plighting their oaths to 
one another, that they would fight till not a man was left alive. 
With this courage they recommenced their march, either to 
conquer or be conquered ; carrying with them all the prisoners. 

They found much difficulty in their approach to the city, 
for within the town the Spaniards had placed many great guns, 
at several quarters, some charged with small pieces of iron, and 
others with musket bullets. With all these they saluted the 
pirates at their approaching, and gave them full and frequent 
broadsides, firing at them incessantly ; so that unavoidably they 
lost at every step great numbers of men. But these manifest 
13 * 



150 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

dangers of their lives, nor the sight of so many as dropped con- 
tinual iy at their sides, could deter them from advancing, and 
gaining ground every moment on the enemy. And though 
the Spaniards never ceased to fire, and act the best they could 
for their defence, yet they were forced to yield, after three 
hours' combat. And the pirates having possessed themselves, 
killed and destroyed all that attempted in the least to oppose 
them. The inhabitants had transported the best of their goods 
to more remote and occult places ; howbeit, they found in the 
city several warehouses well stocked with merchandise, as well 
silks and cloths, as linen, and other things of value. As soon 
as the first fury of their entrance was over, Captain Morgan 
assembled his men, and commanded them, under great penal- 
ties, not to drink or taste any wine ; and the reason he gave for 
it was, because he had intelligence that it was all poisoned by 
the Spaniards. Howbeit, it was thought he gave these pru- 
dent orders to prevent the debauchery of his people, which he 
foresaw would be very great at. the first, after so much hunger 
sustained by the way; fearing, withal, lest the Spaniards, see- 
ing them in wine, should rally, and falling on the city, use them 
as inhumanly as they had used the inhabitants before. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Captain Morgan sends Canoes and Boats to the South Sea. — He fires the City 
of Panama. — Robberies and Cruelties committed there by the Pirates, till 
their Return to the Castle of Chagre. 

Captain Morgan, as soon as he had placed necessary guards 
at several quarters, within and without the city, commanded 
twenty-five men to seize a great boat, which had stuck in the 
mud of the port, for want of water at a low tide. The same 
day, about noon, he caused fire privately to be set to several 
great edifices of the city, nobody knowing who were the au- 
thors thereof, much less on what motives Captain Morgan did 
it, which are unknown to this day. The fire increased so, that 
before night the greatest part of the city was in a flame. Cap- 
tain Morgan pretended the Spaniards had done it, perceiving 
that his own people reflected on him for that action. Many of 
the Spaniards, and some of the pirates, did what they could, 
either to quench the flame, or by blowing up houses with gun- 
powder, and pulling down others, to stop it, but in vain ; for 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 151 

in less than half an hour it consumed a whole street. All the 
houses of this cit}?- were built with cedar, very curious and 
magnificent, and richly adorned, especially with hangings and 
paintings, whereof part were before removed, and another great 
part were consumed by fire. 

There were in this city (which is the see of a bishop) eight 
monasteries, seven for men, and one for women ; two stately 
churches, and one hospital. The churches and monasteries 
were all richly adorned with altar pieces and paintings, much 
gold and silver, with other precious things, all which the eccle- 
siastics had hidden. Besides which, here were two thousand 
houses of magnificent building, the greatest part inhabited by 
merchants vastly rich. For the rest of less quality, and trades- 
men, this city contained five thousand more. Here were also 
many stables for the horses and mules, that carry the plate of 
the king of Spain, as well as private men, towards the North 
Sea. The neighboring fields are full of fertile plantations and 
pleasant gardens, affording delicious prospects to the 'inhabitants 
all the year. 

The Genoese had in this city a stately house for their trade 
of negroes. This likewise was by Captain Morgan burnt to 
the very ground, Besides which building, there were consumed 
two hundred warehouses, and many slaves, who had hid them- 
selves therein, with innumerable sacks of meal ; the fire of which 
continued four weeks after it had begun. The greatest part of 
the pirates still encamped without the city, fearing and expect- 
ing the Spaniards would come and fight them anew, it being 
known they much outnumbered the pirates. This made them 
keep the field, to preserve their forces united, now much di- 
minished by their losses. Their wounded, which were many, 
they put into one church which remained standing, the rest 
being consumed by the fire. Besides these decreases of their 
men, Captain Morgan had sent a convoy of one hundred and fifty 
men to the castle of Cfhagre, to carry the news of his victory 
to Panama. 

They saw often whole troops of Spaniards run to and fro in 
the fields, which made them suspect their rallying, which they 
never had the courage to do. In the afternoon Captain Mor- 
gan reentered the city with his troops, that every one might 
take up their lodgings, which now they could hardly find, few 
houses having escaped the fire. Then they sought very care- 
lully among the ruins and ashes for utensils of plate or gold, 
that were not quite wasted by the flames. And of such they 
found no small number, especially in wells and cisterns, where 
the Spaniards had hid them. 



152 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Next day Captain Morgan despatched away two troops of 
one hundred and fifty men each, stout and well armed, to seek 
for the inhabitants who were escaped. These having made 
several excursions up and down the fields, woods, and moun- 
tains adjacent, returned after two days, bringing above two 
hundred prisoners, men, women, and slaves. The same day 
returned also the boat which Captain Morgan had sent to the 
Smith Sea, bringing three other boats which they had taken. 
But all these prizes they could willingly have given, and great- 
er labor into the bargain, for one galleon, which miraculously 
escaped, richly laden with all the king's plate, jewels and other 
precious goods of the best and richest merchants of Panama. 
On board which were also the religious women of the nunnery, 
who had embarked with all the ornaments of their church, con- 
sisting in much gold, plate, and other things of great value. 

The strength of this galleon was inconsiderable, having only 
seven guns, and ten or twelve muskets, and very ill provided 
of victuals, necessaries, and fresh water, having no more sails 
than the uppermost of the mainmast : this account the pirates 
received from some, who had spoken with seven mariners be- 
longing to the galleon, who came ashore in the cock-boat for 
fresh water. Hence they concluded they might easily have 
taken it, had they given her chase, as they should have done ; 
but they were impeded from following this vastly rich prize, 
by their lascivious exercises with women, which they had car- 
ried and forced on board their boat. To this vice were also 
joined those of gluttony and drunkenness, having plentifully 
debauched themselves with several rich wines they found 
ready, choosing rather to satiate their lusts and appetites, than 
to lay hold on such huge advantage ; since this only prize 
would have been of far greater value than all they got at Pan- 
ama and the places thereabout. Next day, repenting of their 
negligence, being weary of their vices and debaucheries, they 
set forth another boat well armed, to pursue with all speed the 
said galleon, but in vain, the Spaniards who were on board, 
having had intelligence of their own danger one or two days 
before, while the pirates were cruising so near them ; where- 
upon they fled to places m'ore remote and unknown. 

The pirates found in the ports of the Island of Tavoga and 
Tavogilla several boats laden with very good merchandise ; 
all which they took, and brought to Panama, where they made 
an exact relation of all that had passed to Captain Morgan. 
The prisoners confirmed what the pirates said, adding, that 
they undoubtedly knew where the galleon might then be, but 
that it was very probable they had been relieved before now, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 153 

from other places. This stirred up Captain Morgan, anew, to 
send forth all the boats in the port of Panama, to seek the said 
galleon, till they could find her. These boats, being in all 
four, after eight days' cruising to and fro, and searching several 
ports and creeks, lost all hopes of finding her : hereupon, they 
returned to Tavoga and Tavogilla ; here they found a reason- 
able good ship newly come from Payta, laden with cloth, soap, 
sugar, and biscuit, with twenty thousand pieces of eight : this 
they, instantly seized, without the least resistance, as also a 
boat, which was not far off, on which they # laded great part of 
the merchandises from the ship, with some slaves. With this 
purchase they returned to Panama, somewhat better satisfied ; 
yet, withal, much discontented that they could not meet with 
the galleon. 

The convoy which Captain Morgan had sent to the castle 
of Chagre returned much about the same time, bringing with 
them very good news : for while Captain Morgan was on his 
journey to Panama, those he had left in the castle of Chagre 
had sent forth two boats to cruise. These met with a Spanish 
ship, which they chased within sight of the castle : this being 
perceived by the pirates in the castle, they put forth Span- 
ish colots, to deceive the ship that fled before the boats ; and 
the poor Spaniards, thinking to take refuge under the castle, 
were caught in a snare, -and made prisoners. The cargo on 
board the said vessel consisted in victuals and provisions, than 
which, nothing could be more opportune for the castle, where 
they began already to want things of this kind. 

This good luck of those of Chagre caused Captain Morgan 
to stay longer at Panama, ordering several new excursions into 
the country round about ; and while the pirates at Panama 
were upon these expeditions, those at Chagre were busy in pi- 
racies on the north sea. Captain Morgan sent forth, daily, par- 
ties of two hundred men, to make inroads into all the country 
round about j and when one party came back, another went 
forth, who soon gathered much riches, and many prisoners. 
These being brought into the city, were put to the most exqui- 
site tortures, to make them confess both other people's goods 
and their own. Here it happened that one poor wretch was 
found in the house of a person of quality, who had put on, 
amidst the confusion, a pair of taffety breeches of his master's, 
with a little silver key hanging out ; perceiving which, they 
asked him' for the cabinet of the said key. His answer 
was, he knew not what was become of it, but that, finding 
those breeches in his master's house, he had made bold to 
wear them. Not being able to get any other answer, they 



154 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

put him on the rack, and inhumanly disjointed his arms ; then 
they twisted a cord about his forehead, which they wrung so 
hard, that his eyes appeared as big as eggs, and were ready to 
fall out. But with these torments, not obtaining any positive 
answer, they hung him up by the testicles, giving him many 
blows and stripes, under that intolerable pain and posture of 
body. Afterwards they cut off 'his nose and ears, and singed 
his face with burning straw, till he could not speak, nor lament 
his misery any longer: then, losing all hopes of any confession, 
they bade a negro run him through, which put an end to his 
life, and to their inhuman tortures. Thus did many others of 
those miserable prisoners finish their days, the common sport 
and recreation of these pirates being such tragedies. 

They spared, in these their cruelties, no sex, nor condition ; 
for as to religious persons, and priests, they granted them less 
quarter than others, unless they could produce a considerable 
sum sufficient for a ransom. Women were no better used, ex- 
cept they submitted to their filthy lusts ; for such as would not 
consent, were treated with all the rigor imaginable. Captain 
Morgan gave them no good example in this point ; for when 
any beautiful woman was brought prisoner to his presence, he 
used all means, both of rigor and mildness, to bend them to his 
lascivious pleasure. For confirmation of which, t shall give a 
short history of a lady, whose virtue and constancy ought to be 
transmitted to posterity. 

Among the prisoners brought by the pirates from Tavoga 
and Tavogilla, was a gentlewoman of good quality, and no 
less virtue and chastity, wife to one of the richest merchants 
there. She was young, and so beautiful, as perhaps few in all 
Europe surpassed her, either in comeliness or honesty. Her 
husband then was from home, being gone as far as Peru, about 
his commerce and trade. This virtuous lady, hearing of the 
pirates' coming, had fled, with other friends and relations, to 
preserve her life from the cruelties and tyrannies of those hard- 
hearted enemies : but no sooner did she appear before Captain 
Morgan, but she was designed for his pleasure. Hereupon, he 
lodged her in an apartment by herself, giving her a negro, or 
black woman, to wait on her, and treated her with all the re- 
spect due to her quality. The poor afflicted lady begged, with 
many sobs and tears, to lodge among the other prisoners : her 
relations fearing that unexpected kindness of the commander 
might be a design on her chastity. But Captain Morgan would 
by no means hearken to her, but commanded she should be 
treated with more particular care than before, and have her 
victuals from his own table. 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 155 

This lady had formerly heard very strange reports concern- 
. ing the pirates, as if they were not men, but, as they saijj, her- 
etics, who did neither invoke the blessed Trinity, nor believe 
in Jesus Christ. But now she began to have better thoughts 
of them, upon these civilities of Captain Morgan ; especially 
hearing him many times swear by God, and Jesus Christ, in 
whom she thought they did not believe. Nor did she think 
them to be so bad, or to have the shapes of beasts,- as had been 
related. As to the name of robbers, or thieves, commonly giv- 
en them, she wondered not much at it, seeing, among all na- 
tions of the universe, there were wicked men, covetous to 
possess the goods of others. Like this was the opinion of 
another woman of weak understanding, at Panama, who used 
to say, before the pirates came thither, she had a great curiosity 
to see a pirate ; her husband having often told her they were 
not like other men, but rather irrational beasts. This silly wo- 
man happening to see the first of them, cried out, aloud, " Je- 
sus bless me ! these thieves are like us Spaniards." 

This false civility of Captain Morgan towards this lady, as is 
usual to such as pretend, and cannot obtain, was soon changed 
into barbarous cruelty; for after three or four days he came to 
see her, and entertained her with lascivious discourses, desiring 
the accomplishment of his lust. The virtuous lady constantly 
denied him, with much civility, and many humble and modest 
expressions ; but Captain Morgan still persisted in his base re- 
quest, presenting to her much pearl, gold, and whatever he had. 
that was precious and valuable : but the lady, not willing to 
consent, or accept his presents, showing herself like Susannah 
for constancy, he presently changed his note, and addressed 
her in another tone, threatening a thousand cruelties and hard 
usages, to all which she gave only this resolute and positive 
answer : "Sir, my life is in your hands ; but as to my body, in 
^^selation to that which you would persuade me to, my soul shall 
sooner be separated from it, through the violence of your arms, 
than I shall condescend to your request." Captain Morgan 
understanding this her heroic resolution, commanded her to be 
stripped of the best of her apparel, and imprisoned in a dark- 
some, stinking cellar : here she was allowed a small quantity 
of meat and drink, wherewith she had much ado to sustain 
her life. 

Under this hardship, the virtuous lady prayed daily to God 
Almighty for constancy and patience : but Captain Morgan, 
now thoroughly convinced of her chaste resolutions, as also 
desirous to conceal the cause of her hard usage, since many of 
his companions compassionated her condition, pretended she 



156 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

held intelligence with the Spaniards, and corresponded with 
them,^busirig his lenity and kindness. I, myself, was an eye- 
witness thereof, and could never have judged such constancy 
and chastity to be found in the world, if my own eyes and 
ears had not assured me thereof. But of this incomparable 
lady, I shall say something more, hereafter. 

Captain Morgan, having now been at Panama full three 
weeks, commanded all things to be prepared for his departure. 
He ordered every company of men to seek so many beasts of 
carriage, as might convey the whole spoil to the river where 
his canoes lay. About this time there was a great rumor that 
a considerable number of pirates intended to leave Captain 
Morgan, and that, taking a ship then in the port, they deter- 
mined to go and rob on the South Sea, till they had got as 
much as they thought fit, and then return homewards, by way 
of the East Indies. For which purpose, they had gathered 
much provisions, which they had hid in private places, with 
sufficient powder, bullets, and all other ammunition : likewise, 
some great guns belonging to the town, mnskets, and other 
things, wherewith they designed notonly to equip their vessel, 
but to fortify themselves in some island, which might serve 
them for a place of refuge. 

This design had certainly taken effect, had not Captain Mor- 
gan had timely advice of it from one of their comrades. Here- 
upon, he commanded the mainmast of the said ship to be cut 
down and burnt, with all the other boats in the port : hereby 
the intentions of all, or most of his companions, were totally 
frustrated. Then Captain Morgan sent many of the Spaniards' 
into the adjoining fields and country, to seek for money, to 
ransom, not only themselves, but the rest of the prisoners, as 
likewise the ecclesiastics. Moreover, he commanded all the 
artillery of the town to be nailed and stopped up. At the same 
time he sent out a strong company of men to seek for the gov- 
ernor of Panama, of whom intelligence was brought, that he 
had laid several ambuscades in the way by which he ought to 
return : but they returned soon after, saying, that they had not 
found any sign of any such ambuscades. For confirmation 
whereof, they brought some prisoners, who declared that the 
said governor had had an intention of making some opposition 
by the way, but that the men designed to effect it were unwill- 
ing to undertake it ; so that, for want of means, he could not 
put his design in execution. 

February 24, 1671, Captain Morgan departed from Panama, 
or rather, from the place where the city of Panama stood ; of 
the spoils whereof he carried with him one hundred and sev- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 157 

enty-five beasts of carriage,, laden with silver, gold, and other 
precious things, beside about six hundred prisoners, men, wo- 
men, children, and slaves. That day they came to a river, 
that passes through a delicious plain, a league from Panama. 
Here Captain Morgan put all his forces into good order, so as 
that the prisoners were in the middle, surrounded on all sides 
with pirates, where nothing else was to be heard but lamenta- 
tions, cries, shrieks, and doleful sighs of so many women and 
children, who feared Captain Morgan designed to transport 
them all into his own country, for slaves. Besides, all those 
miserable prisoners endured extreme hunger and thirst, at that 
time, which misery Captain Morgan designedly caused them to 
sustain, to excite them to seek for money, to ransom them- 
selves, according to the tax he had set upon every one. Many 
of the women begged Captain Morgan, on their knees, with 
infinite sighs and tears, to let them return to Panama, there to 
live with their dear husbands and children, in little huts of 
straw, which they would erect, seeing they had no houses till 
the rebuilding of the city. But his answer was, " he came not 
thither to hear lamentations, and cries, but to seek money ; 
therefore they ought first to seek out that, wherever it was 
to be had, and bring it to him ; otherwise, he would assur- 
edly transport them all to such places whither they cared not 
to go." 

Next day, when the march began, those lamentable cries and 
shrieks were renewed, so as it would have caused compassion 
in the hardest heart : but Captain Morgan, as a man little given 
to mercy, was not moved in the least.- They marched in the 
same order as before, one party of the pirates in the van, the 
prisoners in the middle, and the rest of the pirates in the rear ; 
by whom the miserable Spaniards were at every step punched 
and thrust in their backs and sides, with the blunt ends of their 
arms, to make them march faster. That beautiful and virtu- 
ous lady, mentioned before for her unparalleled constancy and 
chastity, was led prisoner by herself between two pirates. Her 
lamentations now pierced the skies, seeing herself carried away 
into captivity, often crying to the pirates, and telling them, 
" that she had given orders to two religious persons, in whom 
she had relied, to go to a certain place, and fetch so much 
money as her ransom did amount to ; that they had promised 
faithfully to do it, but having obtained the money, instead of 
bringing it to her, they had employed it in another way, to 
ransom some of their own, and particular friends." This ill 
action of theirs was discovered by a slave, who brought a let- 
ter to the said lady. Her complaints, and the cause thereof, 
14 



158 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 159 

being brought to Captain Morgan, he thought fit to inquire 
thereinto. Having found it to be true, especially hearing it 
confirmed by the confession of the said religious men, though 
under some frivolous excuses of having diverted the money 
but for a day or two, in which time they expected more sums 
to repay it, he gave liberty to the said lady, whom otherwise 
he designed to transport to Jamaica. But he detained the said 
religious men, as prisoners in her place, using them according 
to their deserts. 

Captain Morgan arriving at the town called Cruz, on the 
banks of the River of Chagre, he published an order among 
the prisoners, that within three days every one should bring in 
their ransom, under the penalty of being transported to Jamai- 
ca. Meanwhile he gave orders for so much rice and maize, to 
be collected thereabouts, as was necessary for victualling his 
ships. Here some of the prisoners were ransomed, but many 
others could not bring in their money. Hereupon he contin- 
ued his voyage, leaving the village on the fifth of March fol- 
lowing, carrying with him all the spoil he could. Hence he 
likewise led away some new prisoners, inhabitants there, with 
those of Panama, who had not paid their ransoms : but the 
two religious men, who had diverted the lady's money, were 
ransomed three days after by other persons, who had more 
compassion for them than they had showed for her. About, 
the middle of the way to Chagre, Captain Morgan commanded 
them to be mustered, and caused every one to be sworn that 
they had concealed nothing, not even to the value of sixpence. 
This done, Captain Morgan knowing those lewd fellows would 
not stick to swear falsely for interest, he commanded every one 
to be searched very strictly, both in their clothes and satchels, 
and elsewhere. Yea, that this order might not be ill taken by 
his companions, he permitted himself to be searched, even to 
his very shoes. To this effect, by common consent, one was 
assigned out of every company, to be searchers of the rest. 
The French pirates that assisted oh this expedition disliked 
this new practice of searching ; but being outnumbered by the 
English, they were forced to submit, as well as the rest. The 
search being over, they re.embarked, and arrived at the Castle 
of Chagre on the ninth of March. Here they found all things 
in good order, excepting the wounded men, whom they had 
left at their departure ; for of these, the greatest number were 
dead of their wounds. 

From Chagre, Captain Morgan sent, presently after his arrival, 
a great boat to Ruerto Bello,with all the prisoners taken at the Isle 
of St. Catherine, demanding of them a considerable ransom for 



160 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

the Castle of Chagre, where he then was, threatening otherwise 
to ruin it. To this those of Puerto Bello answered, they would 
not give oue farthing towards the ransom of the said castle, and 
the English might do with it as they pleased. Hereupon, the 
dividend was made of all the spoil made in that voyage; every 
company, and every particular person therein, receiving their 
proportion, or rather, what part thereof Captain Morgan pleased 
to give them. For the rest of his companions, even of his own 
nation, murmured at his proceedings, and told him to his face, 
that he had reserved the best jewels to himself; for they judged 
it impossible that no greater share should belong to them than 
two hundred pieces of eight, per capita, of so many valuable 
plunders they had made ; which small sum they thought too 
little for so much labor, and such dangers as they had been ex- 
posed to. But Captain Morgan was deaf to all this, and many 
other like complaints, having designed to cheat them of what 
he could. 

At last, finding himself obnoxious to many censures of his 
people, and fearing the consequence, he thought it unsafe to 
stay any longer at Chagre, but ordered the ordnance of the cas- 
tle to be carried on board his ship: then he caused most of the 
walls to be demolished, the edifices to be burnt, and as many 
other things ruined as could be done in a short time. This 
done, he went secretly on board his own ship, without giving 
any notice to his companions, and put out to sea, being only 
followed by three or four vessels of the whole fleet. These 
were such (as the French pirates believed) as went shares with 
Captain Morgan in the best part of the spoil, which had been 
concealed from them in the dividend. The Frenchmen could 
willingly have revenged themselves on Captain Morgan and 
his followers, had they been able to encounter him at sea ; but 
they were destitute of necessaries, and had much ado to find 
sufficient provisions for their voyage to Jamaica, he having left 
them unprovided for all things. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 161 



CHAPTER XXI. 

A Voyage made by the Author along the Coast, of Costa Rica, at his Return to- 
wards Jamaica. — What happened most remarkable in the said Voyage. — 
Some Observations then made by him. 

Captain Morgan left us all in such a miserable condition, as 
lively represented what reward attends wickedness in the end ; 
whence we ought to have learned to regulate a«nd amend our 
actions for the future. We were so reduced, that every compa- 
ny which was left, whether English or French, being com- 
pelled to help themselves, most of them separated from each 
other, and several companies took several courses at their return 
homewards. That party to which I did belong, steered along 
the coast of Costa Rica, to get provisions, and careen our ves- 
sel in some secure place or other ; for our boat was grown foul, 
and unfit for sailing. In a few days we arrived at a great port, 
called Bocca del Toro, where are always multitudes of good 
eatable tortoises. It is about ten leagues in compass, surround- 
ed with little islands, under which vessels may ride secure from 
violent winds. 

These islands are inhabited by Indians, who never could be 
subdued by the Spaniards ; and hence they call them Indios 
bravos, or wild Indians. They are divided, according to the 
variety of their language, into several people, whence it is that 
they are in perpetual wars. Towards the east side of this port 
are some who formerly did trade much with the pirates, selling 
them the flesh of divers animals which they hunt, as also all 
sorts of fruits; the exchange for which was iron instruments 
which the pirates brought, beads, and toys, whereof they made 
great account for wearing, more than of precious jewels, which 
they neither knew nor esteemed. But this commerce failed, 
the pirates committing many barbarities, killing their men, and 
taking away their women, to serve their lust ; which put an 
end to all friendship and commerce between them. 

We went ashore to seek provisions, our necessity being ex- 
treme ; but we could find nothing but a few eggs of crocodiles, 
wherewith we were forced to be content. Hereupon we left 
those quarters, and steered eastward. Upon this tack we met 
three boats more of our own companions, who had been left 
behind by Captain Morgan. These told us, they had been able 
to find no relief for their extreme hunger, and that Captain 
Morgan himself and his people were reduced to such misery, 
as he could afford them no more than one short allowance a day. 
14* 



162 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Hearing thus that little or no good was to be expected by 
sailing farther eastward, Ave changed our course westward. 
Here Ave found a vast many tortoises more than Ave needed to 
victual our boats, though for a long time. Being provided Avith 
this sort of victuals, the next thing we wanted Avas fresh Avater. 
There Avas enough to- be had in the neighboring islands, but 
Ave scarce dared to land, by reason of the enmity abovesaid, 
between the pirates and Indians. But, necessity having no 
law, we Avere forced to do as we could, not as Ave desired. 
Hereupon we Avent all of us together to one of the islands. 
Being landed, one party of our men ranged 'the woods, Avhile 
another filled the barrels with Avater. Scarce an hour Avas 
past, Avhen suddenly the Indians came upon us, and one of our 
men cried, "Arm, arm." We presently began to fire at them, 
as hot as Ave could. This stopped them, and, in a short time, 
put them to flight, sheltering themselves in the Avoods. We 
pursued them, but not far, desiring rather to get in our Avater, 
than any advantage on the enemy. Coming back, Ave found 
two Indians dead on the shore : the habiliments of one showed 
him to be a person of quality among them, for he had about 
his body a girdle, or sash, richly Avoven ; and on his face he 
Avore a beard of massy gold, I mean a small planch of gold 
hung down at his lips, by two strings, Avhich run through two 
little holes, made there on purpose, that covered his beard, or 
served instead thereof. His arms Avere made of sticks of palm- 
ite-trees, very curiously wrought ; at one end Avhereof was a 
kind of hook, Avhich seemed to be hardened with fire. We 
should have spoke with some of these Indians, to' reconcile 
them to us, and to reneAV the former trade, and obtain provis- 
ions, but it was impossible, through the savageness of theii 
minds. However, Ave filled our barrels Avith Avater, and car- 
ried them aboard. 

The night following, we heard from shore huge cries and 
shrieks among the Indians. These lamentations caused us to 
believe that they had called in many more people to their aid, 
and that they lamented the death of those two men. These 
Indians never came upon the sea, or ever built canoes, or any 
vessels for navigation, not so much as fisher-boats, of Avhich 
art of fishery they are ignorant. At last, having nothing else 
to hope for in these parts, Ave resolved to depart for Jamaica. 
Being set forth, Ave met with contrary Avinds, Avhich caused us 
to use our oars, and row to the river of Chagre. When Ave 
came near it, Ave perceived a ship, that began to give us chase; 
Ave feared it AA r as a ship from Carthagena, sent to rebuild and re- 
take possession of the Castle of Chagre, noAv the pirates had left 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 163 

it. Hereupon we set our sail, and ran before the wind, to make 
our escape. But the vessel being much swifter and cleaner 
than ours, easily got the wind of us, and stopped our course. 
Then approaching to us, we discovered them to be our former 
comrades in the expedition of Panama, but lately sent out from 
Chagre. Their design was to go to Nombre de Dios, and thence 
to Carthagena, to seek some purchase or other. But the wind 
being contrary, they concluded to go in our company to the 
place whence we came, called Boco del Toro. 

This accident and encounter retarded our journey two days 
more than we' could regain in a fortnight ; this obliged us to 
return to our former station for a few days. Thence we di- 
rected our course for a place called Boca del Dragon, to get 
provisions of flesh, especially of an animal by the Spaniards 
called manentine, by the Dutch, sea-cow, because its head, nose, 
and teeth are very like those of a cow. They are found com- 
monly where, under the depth of the waters, it is full of grass, 
on which it is thought they feed. They have no cars, but in 
place of them, two little holes as wide as one's little finger. 
Near the neck, they have two fins, under which they have two 
udders, like the breasts of a woman. The skin is very close, 
resembling the skin of a Barbary or Guinea dog. This skin on 
the back is two fingers thick, which, being dried, is as hard as 
whalebone, and may serve to make walking staffs. The belly 
is in all things like that of a cow, as far as the reins. Their 
manner of engendering is the same with that of a land co,\v, the 
male being every way like a bull. They conceive and breed 
but once. But what time they go with calf, I could not learn. 
These fishes have a very acute sense of hearing, so as in taking 
them, the fishermen make not the least noise, nor row, unless 
very slightly. For this reason they use certain instruments 
for rowing, by the Indians called pagaros, by the Spaniards, 
canclettas, with which they row without any noise to fright the 
fish. While they are fishing, they speak not one to another, only 
make signs. They dart them with a javelin as they do- tor- 
toises ; but the point of the javelin somewhat differs, having 
two hooks at the end, and being longer. These fishes are from 
twenty to twenty-four feet long. Their flesh is good to eat, 
being like in color to that of a land cow ; but in taste, to pork. 
It has much fat, or grease, which the pirates melt, and keep in 
earihern pots to use instead of oil. 

Once, when we could not do any good at this fishery, some 
of our men going to hunt, and others to catch fish, we espied 
a canoe with two Indians : these no sooner discovered our 
vessels, but they rowed with all speed towards land, being un- 



164 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

willing to have any thing to do with us pirates. We followed 
them to the shore, but being naturally nimbler than ns, they es- 
caped into the woods. And, what was more, they drew ashore, 
and carried with them, their canoe into the wood, as easily 
as if it had been straw, though it weighed above two thousand 
weight ; this we knew by the canoe itself, which we found 
afterwards, and had much ado to get into the water again, 
though we were in all eleven persons to pull at it. 

We had then with us a pilot, who had been often in those 
parts ; this man seeing this action of the Indians, told us, that 
some few years before, a squadron of pirates arriving at that 
place, they went in canoes to catch some little birds, which 
frequent the sea-coast, among very beautiful trees. While they 
were busied, certain Indians who had climbed the trees to view 
them, seeing the canoes underneath, suddenly leaped down 
into the sea, and seized some of the canoes and pirates that 
kept them, both which they carried nimbly so far into the 
woods, that the prisoners could not be relieved by their com- 
panions. Hereupon the admiral of that squadron landed with 
five hundred men to rescue his men, but they saw such a num- 
ber of Indians flock together to oppose them, as obliged them 
to retreat in haste to their ships, concluding, that if such forces 
as those could not do any thing towards the recovery of their 
companions, they ought to stay no longer there. Having heard 
this history, we came away, fearing some mischief, and bring- 
ing with us the canoe, in which we found nothing but a fish- 
ing net, not very large, and four arrows made of palm-trees, 
seven feet long each ; these arrows, we believed to be their 
arms. The canoe we brought away was of cedar, but very 
roughly hewn, which made us think that those people have no 
instruments of iron. 

Leaving that place, we arrived in twenty-four hours at an- 
other, called Rio de Zuera, where were some few houses 
belonging to Carthagena, inhabited by Spaniards, whom we 
resolved to visit, not being able to find any tortoises, nor any 
of their eggs. The inhabitants were all fled, leaving no victuals 
nor provisions, so we were forced to be content with a certain 
fruit they called platanoes ; with these platanoes we filled our 
boats, and continued our voyage, coasting along the shore to 
find out some creek or bay, wherein to careen our vessel, which 
now was so very leaky, that night and day we were constrained 
to put several men, besides our slaves, to the pump. This 
voyage lasted a fortnight, all which time we were under con- 
tinual fear of perishing. At last we arrived at a port called the 
Bay of Blevelt, so named from a pirate who used to resort thither 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 165 

as we did ; here one party of our men went into the woods 
to hunt, while another undertook to refit and careen our 
vessel. 

Our companions who went abroad to hunt found hereabouts 
porcupines of a monstrous bigness. But their chief exercise 
was killing of monkeys and birds, called by the Spaniards 
faisans, or pheasants ; the toil of shooting seemed, at least to 
me, to be sufficiently compensated with the pleasure of killing 
the monkeys ; for at these we usually made fifteen or sixteen 
shot, before we could kill three or four, so nimbly would they 
escape our hands and aim, even after being much wounded. 
Besides, it was diversion to see the female monkeys carry their 
little ones upon their backs, just as the negroes do their children. 
When any person passes under the trees where these monkeys 
are sitting, they will commonly squirt their excrements upon 
their heads and clothes ; likewise, if, shooting at a parcel of 
them, one happen to be wounded, the rest flock about him, and 
lay their paws on the wound to hinder the blood from issuing 
forth ; others gather moss from the trees, and thrust into the 
wound, and thereby stop the blood. At other times they gath- 
er such or such herbs, and, chewing them in their mouths, apply 
them as a poultice. All which caused in me great admiration, 
seeing such strange actions in those irrational creatures, which 
testified the fidelity and love they had for one another. 

On the ninth day after our arrival, our women slaves being 
busied in ordinary employments of washing of dishes, sewing, 
drawing water out of wells, which we had made on the shore, 
and the like, one of them, who had seen a troop of Indians 
towards the woods, cried out, " Indians, Indians ! "• We ran 
presently to our arms, and their relief, but coming to the wood, 
we found no person there, but tw r o of our women slaves killed 
upon the place with arrows. In their bodies we saw so many 
arrows sticking, as if they had been fixed there with particular 
care, for otherwise we know that one of them was sufficient to 
kill any man. These arrows were all of a rare shape, being 
eight feet long, and as thick as a man's thumb ; at one end was 
a hook of wood, tied to the body of the arrow with a string, at 
the other end was a case or box, like the case of a pair of tweez- 
ers, in which we found little pebbles, or stones ; the color was 
very red, very shining, as if they had been long locked up, all 
which we believed were the arms of their leaders. These 
arrows were all made without instruments of iron ; for what- 
ever the Indians make, they harden first artificially with fire, 
and then polish them with flints. 

These Indians are of a very robust constitution, strong^ and 



166 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

nimble at their feet. We sought carefully up and down the 
woods, but could find no track of them, nor any of their canoes 
nor floats which they use in fishing ; hereupon we retired to our 
vessels, where, having embarked all our goods, we put off from 
shore, fearing lest, finding us there, they should return and. 
overpower us. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

The Author departs towards the Cape of Gracias a Dios. — The Commerce of 
the Pirates with the Indians. — His Arrival at the Island de los Pinos. — And 
finally, his Itetum to Jamaica. 

The great fear we had of those Indians, by reason of the 
death of our two women slaves, made us depart thence as fast 
as we could, directing our course towards the Cape Gracias a 
Dios, where we placed our last hopes of provisions ; for thither 
usually resoYt many pirates, who friendly correspond with the 
Indians there. Being arrived at the said cape, we rejoiced and 
gave thanks to Almighty God, for having delivered us out of 
so many dangers, and brought us to this place of refuge, where 
we found people who showed us most cordial friendship, and 
provided us with all necessaries. 

The custom here is, that when any pirates arrive, every one 
has liberty to buy himself an Indian woman, at the price of a 
knife, or any old axe, wood-bill, or hatchet. By this contract, 
the woman is obliged to remain with the pirate all the time he 
stays there. She serves him in the mean while with victuals 
of all sorts that the country affords. The pirate has liberty 
also to go when he pleases to hunt or fish, or about any 
other divertisement, but is not to commit any hostility or 
depredation on the inhabitants, seeing the Indians bring him in 
all that he needs or desires. 

Through this frequent converse of these Indians with the 
pirates, they sometimes go to sea with them, and remain with 
them whole years, without returning home ; so that many of 
them can speak English and French, and some of the pirates 
their Indian language. Being very dexterous at their javelins, 
they are useful to the pirates in victualling their ships, by the 
fishery of tortoises and manitas, a fish so called by the Span- 
iards. For one of these Indians, is alone able to victual a ves- 
sel of one hundred men. We had in our crew two pirates who 
could speak the Indian language, by whose help I inquired into 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 167 

their customs, lives, and policy, whereof I shall give a brief 
account. 

This island is about thirty leagues in circumference ; it is 
governed as a little commonwealth, without any king, or sov- 
ereign prince ; neither do they entertain any friendship or cor- 
respondence with other neighboring islands, much less with 
the" Spaniards. They are in all but a small nation, whose 
number exceeds not sixteen or seventeen hundred persons. 
They have among them few negro slaves, who happened to 
arrive there, swimming after shipwreck made on that coast. 
For being bound for Terra Firma, in a ship that carried them 
to be sold there, they killed the captain and mariners, with de- 
sign to return to their country, but being ignorant of navigation, 
they stranded their vessel hereabouts. Though, as I said, they 
make but a small nation, yet they are as it were two sorts of 
people ; of which one sort cultivate the ground, and make plan- 
tations : but the other are so lazy, as they have no courage to 
build themselves huts, much less houses. They frequent chief- 
ly the sea-coast, wandering up and down, without knowing or 
caring so much as to cover their bodies from the rains, (which 
are very frequent,) unless with a few palm-leaves ; these they 
put on their heads, and keep their backs always to the wind. 
They use no other clothes than an apron, tied to their middle, 
coming down so as to hide their privities. Such aprons are 
made of the rinds of trees, which are strongly beat upon stones, 
till they are softened ; the same they use for bed-clothes, ex- 
cept a few, who make them of cotton. Their usual arms are 
nothing but azagayas, or spears^which they make fit for use 
with points of iron, or teeth of crocodiles. 

They know, after some manner, that there is a God, yet they 
live without any religion, or divine worship; and, as far as I 
can learn, they believe not in, nor serve, the devil, as many 
other nations of America do ; hereby they are not so much tor- 
mented by him, as other nations are. Their ordinary food, for 
the most part, consists in several fruits ; such as bananas, ra- 
coves, ananas, potatoes, cazave, as also crabs, and some few fish, 
which they kill in the sea with darts. They are pretty expert 
in making certain pleasant and delicate liquors ; the common- 
est among them is called achioc. This is made of a certain seed 
of palm-tree, bruised and steeped in. hot water, till it be settled 
at the bottom ; this liquor being strained off, hath a pleasant 
taste, and is very nourishing. Other sorts of liquors they pre- 
pare, which I shall omit for brevity, only I shall say something 
of that made of platanoes ; these they knead with hot water, 
and then put into great calabashes full of cold water, for eight 



168 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

days, during which it ferments as well as the best wine. This 
liquor they drink for pleasure, and as a great regale, so that 
when they invite their friends or relations, they cannot treat 
them better than with'this pleasant drink. 

They are very unskilful in dressing victuals, so that they 
seldom treat one another with banquets ; but when they invite 
others, they desire them to come and drink of their liquors. 
Before the invited persons come to their house, those that ex- 
pect them comb their hair very well, and anoint their faces 
with oil of palm, mixed with a black tincture, which renders 
them very hideous. The women also daub their faces with 
another sort of stuff, which makes them look as red as crimson, 
and such are their greatest ornaments and attire. Then he 
that invites takes his arms, which are three or four azagayas, 
and goes out of his cottage three or four hundred steps, to wait 
for and receive the invited persons. As soon as they draw 
nigh, he falls on the ground, lying flat on his face, without any 
motion, as if he was dead. Being thus prostrate, the invited 
friends take him up, and set him on his feet, and go all togeth- 
er to the hut. Here the persons invited use the same ceremo- 
ny, falling down on the ground, as the inviter did before ; but 
he lifts them up one by one, and giving them his hand, con- 
ducts them into his cottage, where he causes them to sit. The 
women on these occasions use few or no ceremonies. 

Being thus brought into the house, they are presented every 
one with a calabash, of about four quarts, full of achioc, almost 
as thick as water gruel, or children's pap ; these they are to 
drink off, and get down at any rate. The calabashes being 
emptied, the master of the hoflse, with many ceremonies, goes 
about the room, and gathers his calabashes ; and this drinking 
is reckoned but for one welcome. Afterwards, they drink of the 
achioc above mentioned, to which they are invited ; then fol- 
low many songs, dances, and a thousand caresses, to the women ; 
so that sometimes, for a testimony of their love, they take their 
darts, and with the points, pierce and wound their genital parts. 
This I could not believe, though often affirmed to me, till my 
own eyes were witnesses of these and the like actions ; neither 
only on this occasion do they use this ceremony of piercing 
their genitals ; but also when they make love to any woman, 
thereby they let them understand the greatness of their affec- 
tion and constancy. 

They marry not any young maid without the consent of her 
parents. If any one desires to take a wife, he is first examined 
by the damsel's father, concerning several points of good hus- 
bandry. These are commonly whether he can make azagayas, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 169 

darts for fishing, or spin a certain thread, which they use about 
their arrows. Having answered to satisfaction, the examiner 
calls to his daughter for a little calabash full of achioc ; of this 
he drinks first, then gives the cup to the young man, and he 
to the bride, who drinks it up, and with this only ceremony 
the marriage is made. When any one drinks to the health of 
another, the second person is to drink up the liquor left in the 
calabash. But in case of marriage, as was said, it is consumed 
only among them three, the bride obtaining the greatest share. 

When the woman lies in, neither she nor her husband ob- 
serve the time customary among the Caribbees. But as soon 
as the woman is delivered, she goes to the next river, brook, or 
fountain, and washes the new-born creature, swathing it up in 
certain rowlers, or swathbands, there called cabalas. This 
done, she goes about her ordinary labor. When the man dies, 
his wife buries him with all his azagayars, aprons, and ear jew- 
els ; and comes every day to her husband's grave, bringing him 
meat and drink for a whole year after. Their years they 
reckon by the moons, allowing fifteen to every year, which 
make their entire circle, as our twelve months do ours. 

Some writers of the Caribbee Islands affirm that this ceremo- 
ny of carrying victuals to the dead is general among them, 
and that the devil comes to the sepulchres, and carries away the 
meat and drink. But I know the contrary, having often myself 
taken away these offerings, and eaten them ; knowing that the 
fruits used on these occasions were of the choicest, and the liquor 
of the best sort. The widow having completed her year, opens 
the grave, and takes out all her husband's bones : these she 
scrapes, and washes very well, and dries in the sun ; then she ties 
them all' together, and puts them into a cabalas, or satchel, and is 
obliged for another year to carry them upon her back by day, 
and sleep upon them by night, till the year is out ; then she 
hangs up the bag and bones against the post of her own door, 
if she be mistress of a house ; if not, she hangs them at the 
door of her next neighbors or relations. 

The widows cannot marry the second time, according to 
their customs, till after two years' end. The men are bound to 
perform no such ceremonies for their wives ; but if any pirate 
marry an Indian woman, she is bound to do in all things as if 
he were an Indian. The negroes on this island live in all re- 
spects according to their own customs. Now I shall continue 
the account of our voyage. 

After we had refreshed and provided ourselves as well as we 
could at this island, we steered towards the Island de los Pinos. 
Here we arrived in fifteen days, and were constrained to refit 
15 



170 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

our vessel, which now again was very leaky, and not fit for 
sailing any farther. Hereupon we divided ourselves as before, 
some to careening the ship, others to fishing. In this last we 
were so successful, as to take, in six or seven hours, fish suffi- 
cient for one thousand persons. We had with us some Indians 
from the Cape of Gracias a Dios, very dexterous both in hunt- 
ing and fishing ; with whose help we soon killed likewise, and 
salted, a huge number of wild cows, enough to satiate our hun- 
gry appetites, and to victual our vessel. These cows were 
formerly brought into this island by the Spaniards, that they 
might here multiply and stock the country. We salted also a 
vast number of tortoises, which are here very plentiful. These 
things made us forget the miseries we had lately endured, and 
we began to call one another again by the name of brothers, 
which was customary amongst us, but had been disused in our 
miseries. 

While we continued here, we feasted ourselves very plenti- 
fully, without fear of enemies. For as to the Spaniards on the 
island, they were in friendship with us; only we were con- 
strained to keep watch and ward every night for fear of the 
crocodiles, which swarm all over the island. For these, when 
they are hungry, will assault any man and devour him ; as it 
happened to one of jour companions, who being gone into the 
wood, in company with a negro, they chanced upon a croco- 
dile, which with incredible agility assaulted the pirate, and, 
fastening upon his leg, cast him on the ground, the negro es- 
caping by flight. Yet he, being a robust and a courageous 
man, drew forth a knife he had then about him, and after a 
dangerous combat, stabbed the crocodile, which done, himself, 
tired with the battle, and weakened with loss of blood-, lay for 
dead on the place. Being so found by the negro, who returned 
to see what was become of him, he took him on his back, and 
brought him to the sea-side, though a whole league off, where 
we put him into a canoe, and conveyed him on board. 

After this, none of our men dared to enter the woods without 
good company ; and ourselves, desirous to revenge the disaster 
of our companion, went in troops next day to the woods, to find 
out crocodiles to kill. These animals would come every night 
to the sides of our ship, and offer to climb up into the vessel. 
One of these, one night, was seized with an iron hook ; but he, 
instead of flying to the bottom, began to mourft the ladder of 
the ship till we killed him with other instruments. After we 
had remained there some time, and refreshed ourselves, we set 
sail for Jamaica. Here we arrived in a few days, after a pros- 
perous vovage, and found Captain Morgan got home before us ; 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 171 

but had seen, as yet, none of his companions whom he left be- 
hind, we being the first that arrived there after him. 

He was then very busy in persuading and levying people to 
transport to the Isle of St. Catherine, which he designed to 
fortify, and hold for a common refuge to all pirates, especially 
of his own nation, as was said ; but this design was soon hin- 
dered by the arrival of a man-of-war from England, which 
brought orders from his majesty of Great Britain, to recall the 
governor of Jamaica to the court of England, to give an ac- 
count of his favoring the pirates in those parts, to the vast det- 
riment of the subjects of the king of Spain ; the said man-of- 
war bringing over also a new governor of Jamaica, in place of 
the precedent. This gentleman entering on the government 
"of the island, presently gave notice to all the ports, by several 
boats sent forth to that intent, of the good correspondence the 
king of England resolved to maintain in those parts of the 
world towards his Catholic majesty, his subjects, and domin- 
ions ; and that, for the future, he had received from his sacred 
majesty and privy council strict and severe orders not to per- 
mit any pirate to set forth from Jamaica, commit any hostility 
or depredation on the Spanish nation or dominions, or any other 
people of those neighboring islands. 

These orders being sufficiently divulged, the pirates who 
were abroad at sea began to fear them, so as they dared not 
return to the said island, but kept the seas, and continued to 
act what hostilities they could. The same pirates took and 
ransacked a considerable town in the Isle of Cuba, called La 
Villa de los Calos, which we mentioned in the description of 
the said island. Here they committed again all sorts of inhu- 
man and barbarous cruelties ; but the new governor of Jamaica 
behaved himself so constant to his duty, and the orders he had 
from England, that he apprehended several of the chief actors, 
and caused them to be hanged. This severity made those re- 
maining abroad take warning, and retire to the Island of Tor- 
tuga, lest they should fall into his hands. Here they joined 
with the French pirates, inhabitants there, in whose company 
they continue to this day. 



172 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

The Relation of the Shipwreck -which Monsieur Bertram Ogeron, Governor of 
Tortuga, suffered nigh the Isles of Guadanillas. — He and his Companions fall 
into the Hands of the Spaniards. — By what Arts he escaped their Hands, and 
preserved his Life. — The Enterprise against Puerto Rico to deliver his People, 
and its unfortunate Success. 

After that expedition of Panama, the inhabitants of the 
French islands in America, in 1673, (while the war was so 
fierce in Europe between France and Holland,) gathered a 
considerable fleet to possess themselves of the islands belonging 
to the United Provinces in the West Indies. To this effect, 
their admiral raised all the pirates and volunteers that he could 
persuade ; and the governor of Tortuga caused to be built a good 
strong man-of-war, which he named Ogeron. and provided very- 
well with ammunition, and manned with five hundred Bucca- 
neers, resolute men, being the vessel he designed for himself. 
Their first intention was to take the Isle of Curasao, belonging 
to the said States of Holland ; but this design miscarried, by 
reason of a shipwreck. 

Ogeron set sail from Tortuga, as soon as things were ready, 
to join the fleet, and pursue the said enterprise : being arrived 
on the west of St. John de Puerto Rico, he was suddenly sur- 
prised with a violent storm, to that degree, as shook his new 
liigate against the rocks, near the islands called Guadanillas, 
and broke it in a thousand pieces ; yet being near the land of 
Puerto Rico, all his men saved their lives in their boats. 

Next day, being got on shore, they were discovered by the 
Spaniards inhabiting the island, who, taking them to be French 
pirates, that meant to take the island anew, as they had done 
before, they alarmed the whole country, and, gathering their 
forces together, marched against them ; and they found them, 
for want of arms, not able to make any defence, begging quar- 
ter for their lives, as the custom is. But the Spaniards, re- 
membering the horrible cruelties those pirates had many times 
committed, would have no compassion on them ; but answer- 
ing them, " Ha ! ye thievish dogs, here 's no quarter for you ! " 
they assaulted them very furiously, and killed most of them. 
At last, perceiving they made no resistance, nor had any arms 
to defend themselves, they began to relent, taking prisoners as 
many as remained alive. 

But, being still persuaded that those unfortunate people came 
with design to take again and ruinate the island, they bound them 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



173 



with cords, two and two, or three and three together, and drove 
them through the woods into the open fields. Being come 
thus far with them, they asked them what was become of 
their leader : they^ constantly made answer, he was drowned 
in the shipwreck, though they knew it was false. For Ogeron, 
being unknown to the Spaniards, behaved himself among them 
as an innocent fool, and in his actions mimicked the nalural so 
well, that he was not tied as the rest of his companions, but let 
loose to serve the pleasure and laughter of the common sol- 
diers. These, now and then, would give him scraps of bread 
and other victuals, whereas the rest of the prisoners had never 
sufficient to satisfy their hungry stomachs, their allowance 
from the Spaniards being scarce enough to preserve them alive. 

There was among the French pirates a surgeon, who, having 
done some remarkable services to the Spaniards, was unbound 
and set at liberty to go freely up and down, even as Ogeron 
did. To this surgeon, Ogeron declared his resolution of at- 
tempting an escape from the cruelty and hard usage of those 
enemies, which they did by fleeing to the woods, there to make 
something or other wherein to transport themselves elsewhere, 
though they had nor could obtain no other thing in the world 
that could be serviceable in building of vessels, but one only 
hatchet. Thus they began their march towards the woods, 
nearest the sea-coast. Having travelled all day long, they 
came about evening to the sea-side, almost unexpectedly, but 
without any thing to eat, or any secure place to rest their wea- 
ried limbs. At last they perceived, nigh the shore, a huge 
quantity of fishes, called by the Spaniards, corladados. These 
frequently approach the sands of the shore, in pursuit of other 
little fishes that serve them, for their food. Of these they took 
as many as they thought necessary, and by rubbing two sticks 
briskly together, the)'" kindled fire, wherewith they made coals 
to roast them. Next day they began to cut down and prepare 
timber, to make a kind of small boat to pass over to the Isle of 
Santa Cruz, which belongs to the French. 

While they were busied about their work, they discovered, 
at a great distance, a canoe steering directly towards the place 
where they were. This putting them in some fear, lest they 
should be found and taken again by the Spaniards, they retired 
into the woods, till they could discern what people were in the 
canoe. At last, perceiving them to be no more than two men, 
who seemed to be fishermen, they concluded to hazard their 
lives, and, overcoming them, to seize the canoe. Soon after, 
they perceived one of them, who was a mulatto, to go with 
calabashes hanging at his back, towards a spring not far off, to 
15* 



174 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

take in fresh water. The other, who was a Spaniard, staid be- 
hind him for his return. Seeing them divided, they assaulted 
the mulatto first, and, by a great blow on his head with the 
hatchet, they despatched him. The Spaniard, upon the noise, 
made towards the canoe, thinking to escape, but he was over- 
taken hy the two, and killed. Having compassed their design, 
they fetched the corpse of the mulatto, and cast both into the 
middle of the sea, to be consumed by the fish, by this means 
to conceal this fact forever from the Spaniards. 

This done, they took in as much fresh water as they could, 
and set sail thence to seek some place of refuge. That day they 
steered along the coasts of Puerto Rico, and came to Cabo 
Roxo. Hence they traversed directly to Hispaniola, where 
many of their own comrades and companions were to be found. 
The currents of the waters and winds were very favorable, so 
as in a few days they arrived at a place called Samana, in the 
said island, where they found a party of their own people. 

Ogeron being landed at Samana, ordered the surgeon to levy 
all the people he could in those parts, while he departed to re- 
visit his government of Tortuga ; where being arrived, he used 
all his endeavors to gather vessels and men to his assistance ; 
so that in a few days he got a good number of both, well 
equipped and disposed to follow him. These were to go to 
St. John de Puerto Rico, and deliver his fellows, whom he had 
left in the miserable condition as was said before. Having em- 
barked all the people, which the surgeon had levied at Sama- 
na, he made them a speech, telling them, "You may all expect 
great spoil and riches from this enterprise, and therefore let all 
fear and cowardice be set aside ; on the contrary, fill your 
hearts with courage and valor, for thus you will find yourselves 
soon satisfied, of what at present bare hopes do promise. " Every 
one much relied on these promises of Ogeron, and from his 
words conceived no small joy in their minds. Thus they set 
sail from Tortuga, for the coasts of Puerto Rico. Being come 
within sight of land, they used only their lower sails, that they 
might not be discovered by the Spaniards, till they came near 
the place where they intended to land. 

The Spaniards, notwithstanding this caution, having had in- 
telligence of their coming, were prepared for a defence, having 
posted many troops of horse along the coasts to watch their 
descent. Ogeron, perceiving their vigilancy, ordered the ves- 
sels to draw near the shore, and shoot off many great guns, 
which forced the cavalry to retire within the woods: here lay 
concealed many companies of foot, prostrate on the ground. 
So the pirates made their descent at leisure, and began to entei 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 175 

among the trees, scarce suspecting any harm to be where the 
horsemen could do no service ; but no sooner were they fallen 
into this ambuscade, than the Spaniards arose and assaulted 
them so courageously, that they soon destroyed great part of 
them. Thus leaving great numbers dead on the place, the rest 
very hardly escaped by flight to their ships. 

Ogeron, though he escaped this danger, yet could willingly 
have perished in the fight, rather than suffer the shame which 
the ill success of this enterprise was like to bring upon his rep- 
utation : beside that, those that he had attempted to rescue 
were now cast into greater miseries. Hereupon they hastened 
back to Tortuga, the same way they came, with great confu- 
sion in their minds, much diminished in their number, and ut- 
terly disappointed of those spoils, the subject of their hopes, 
and of the promises of the unfortunate Ogeron. The Span- 
iards were very vigilant, and kept their posts near the sea-side 
till the fleet of pirates was out of sight. Meanwhile they made 
an end of killing such of their enemies as, being desperately 
wounded, could not escape by flight, and cut off several limbs 
from the dead bodies, to show them to the former prisoners, for 
whose rescue these others had crossed the seas. 

The fleet being gone, the Spaniards made bonfires and great 
demonstrations of joy for their victory ; but the French pris- 
oners, who were there before, endured more hardship than ever. 
Of their misery and misusage, Jacob Binkes, governor at that 
time, in America, for the states general of the United Prov- 
inces, was an eye-witness : for he arriving in that juncture, at 
Puerto Rico, with some men-of-war, to buy provisions and 
other necessaries, he so pitied their misery, as to bring away 
by stealth five or six of them, which only exasperated the 
Spaniards; for soon after they sent the rest of the prisoners to 
the chief city, of the island, to work and toil about the fortifi- 
cations which then were making, forcing them to bring and 
carry stones, and all sorts of materials : these being finished, 
the governor transported them to Havana, where they employed 
them also in fortifying that city. Here they made them work 
by day, and at night they shut them up as close prisoners, lest 
they should enterprise upon the city ; for- of such attempts the 
Spaniards had had divers proofs, which gave them sufficient 
cause to use them so. 

Afterwards, at several times, when ships arrived from New 
Spain, they transported them by degrees into Europe, and laud- 
ed them at Cadiz ; but notwithstanding this care'of the Span- 
iards to disperse them, they soon after met almost all in France, 
and resolved to return to Tortuga, with the first opportunity. 



170 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

To this effect they assisted one another very lovingly, with 
what necessaries they conld, according to every one's condi- 
tion ; so that in a short while the greatest part had nested 
themselves again at Tortnga, their place of rendezvous. Here 
they equipped again a new fleet to revenge their former mis- 
fortunes on the Spaniards, under the conduct of one Le Sieur 
Maintenon, a Frenchman ; with this fleet, he arrived at the Isl- 
and de la Trinidad, hetween the Isle of Tabago and the coasts 
of Paria. This island they sacked, and after put to the ransom 
of one huridred thousand pieces of eight. Hence they departed 
with design to take and pillage the city of Caraccas, over against 
the Island of Curasao, belonging to the Hollanders. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Encounters at the Islands of Cayana and Tabago, between the Count d'Es- 
trees, Admiral of France, in America, and the Heer Jacob Binkes, Vice 
Admiral of the United Provinces. 

It is already known to the greatest part of Europe, that the 
prince of Courland began to establish a colony in the Island 
of Tobago, and that some time after his people, for want of 
timely recruits, abandoned the same, leaving it to the next oc- 
cupant. Thus it fell into the hands of Adrian and Cornelius 
Lampesius, natives of Flissing, in Zealand, who. arriving there 
in 1654, they fortified it by the order of the states general, 
building a goodly castle, in a convenient situation, capable of 
hindering the assaults of any enemies. 

The strength of this castle was afterwards sufficiently tried 
by Monsieur d'Estrees, as I shall relate, after I have first told 
you what happened before Cayana, in 1676. This year the 
states general sent the vice-adnfiral, Jacob Binkes, to the Isl- 
and of Cayana, then in possession of the French, to repossess 
it. With these orders he set forth from Holland, March 16, in 
the said year, with a fleet of seven men-of-war, one fire-ship, 
and five other small vessels. This fleet arrived at Cayana, 
May 4, next following. Upon their arrival, the Heer Binkes 
landed nine hundred men, who, approaching the castle, sum- 
moned the governor to surrender at discretion. He answered, 
" he thought of nothing less than surrendering, but that he and 
his people were resolved to defend themselves to the utmost." 
The Heer Binkes having received this answer, presently com- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 177 

nianded his troops to attack the castle on both sides at once : 
the assault was very furious, but at length the French, being 
very few, and overwhelmed with the multitude of their ene- 
mies, surrendered both their arms and the castle. In it were 
found thirty-seven pieces of cannon. The governor, named 
Monsieur Lesi, with two priests, were sent into Holland. The 
Heer Binkes lost in the combat fourteen men only, and had 
seventy-two wounded. 

The French king no sooner understood this, but he sent in 
October following the Count d'Estrees, to retake the said island 
from the Hollanders. He arrived there in December, with a 
squadron of men-of-war, all well equipped and provided. Being 
come as far as the River Aperovaco, he met with a small vessel 
of Nantes, which had set forth from Cayana but a fortnight 
before, which gave him intelligence of the condition, wherein 
he might be certain to find the Hollanders at Cayana. They 
told him there were three hundred men in the castle, that all 
about it they had fixed strong palisadoes or empalements, 
and that within the castle were mounted twenty-six pieces of 
cannon. 

Monsieur d'Estrees being enabled with this intelligence to 
take his own measures, proceeded on his voyage, and arrived at 
the port of the said island, three leagues from the castle : here 
he landed eight hundred men, in two several parties ; one he 
placed under the Count de Blinac, and the other under Mon- 
sieur de St. Faucher. On board the fleet he left Monsieur Ga- 
baret, with divers other principal troops, which he thought not 
necessary to be landed. The men being set on shore, the fleet 
weighed anchor, and sailed very slowly towards the castle, while 
the. soldiers marched by land. These could not travel other- 
wise than by nights, by reason of the excessive heats and intol- 
erable exhalations of the earth, which here is very sulphurous, 
and no better than a smoky and stinking oven. 

October 19, the Count d'Estrees sent Monsieur de Lesi, (who 
had been governor of the island, as was said before,) demanding 
of them to deliver the castle to the obedience of the king 
his master, and to him in his sovereign's name. But those 
within resolved not to yield, but at the expense of their lives 
and blood ; which answer they sent to Monsieur d'Estrees. 
Hereupon the French, the next night, stormed the castle on 
seven several sides at once. The defendants having done their 
duty, and fought with as much valor as possible, were at last 
forced to surrender, having thirty-eight persons killed, besides 
many wounded. All the prisoners were transported into, 
France, where they were used with great hardship. 



178 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Monsieur d'Estrees having settled all things at the Isle of 
Cayana, departed thence Sfor Martinico, where, being arrived, ho 
was told that the Heer Binlces was then at the Island of To- 
bago, and his fleet lay at anchor in the bay. Upon this intel- 
ligence, Monsieur d'Estrees made no long stay there, but steered 
directly for Tobago. No sooner was he come nigh the island, 
but Vice Admiral Binkes sent his land forces with a good n um- 
ber of mariners on shore, to manage and defend the artillery 
there. These forces were commanded by the Captains Vander 
Graaf, Van Dongen, and Ciavone, who labored very hard all 
that night in raising batteries, and filling up the palisadoes of 
the fortress called Sterrschans. 

Two days after, the French fleet came to an anchor in the 
Bay of Palmet, and immediately in eighteen boats they landed 
all their men. The Heer Binkes perceiving the French upon 
the hills, gave orders to burn all the houses near the castle, that 
the French might have no place to shelter themselves there. 
February 23, Monsieur d'Estrees sent a drum to the Hollanders 
to demand the surrendry of the fort, which was absolutely de- 
nied. Thus things continued till the 3d of March : on this 
day the French fleet came with full sail, and engaged the 
Dutch fleet, and the dispute was very hot on both sides: mean- 
time, the land forces of the French being sheltered by the 
thickness of the woods, advanced towards the castle, and 
stormed it very briskly; but were repulsed by the Dutch with 
such vigor, as caused them after three several attacks to retire, 
with the loss of above one hundred and fifty men, and two 
hundred wounded ; these they carried off, or rather, dragged 
away, with no small difficulty, by reason of their disorderly 
retreat. 

All this while the two fleets continued the combat, and 
fought very desperately, till on both sides some ships were 
consumed between Vulcan and Neptune ; of this number was 
Monsieur d'Estrees's own ship, mounted with twenty-seven 
guns of prodigious bigness, besides smaller pieces. The battle 
lasted from break of day till evening ; a little before which 
time Monsieur d'Estrees quitted the bay with the rest of the 
ships to the Hollanders, except two, which were stranded un- 
der sail, having gone too high within the port, leaving the vic- 
tory to the Hollanders, though with the loss of several ships 
that were burnt. 

Monsieur d'Estrees finding himself under the shame of this 
defeat, and that he could expect no advantage for the present, 
over the Island of Tobago, set sail thence March 18, and June 
21 he arrived at Brest, in France. Havinsr ariven an account 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 179 

of himself to the king, he was commanded to undertake again 
the enterprise of Tabago. To this effect he ordered eight great 
men-of-war and eight smaller, to be equipped with all speed, 
with which Monsieur d'Estrees set sail from the said port of 
Brest, October 3 following, and arrived December 1 at Barba- 
does. Having received some recruits from Martinico, he sent 
beforehand to review Tabago, and set sail directly for the same, 
where he arrived December 7, with all his fleet. 

Immediately he landed five hundred men under Monsieur De 
Bl inac, governor of the French islands in America. These, 
were followed soon after by a thousand more. December 9, 
they approached within six hundred paces of a post called Le 
Cort, where they landed the artillery designed for this enter- 
prise. On the 10th, Monsieur d'Estrees went in person to 
view the castle, and demanded of the Heer Binkes, by a mes- 
senger, the surrendry thereof, which was generously denied. 
Next day the French advanced towards the castle, and on the 
12th the Dutch from within fired at them without intermission. 
The French began their attack by casting fire-balls into the 
castle with main violence : the very third ball that was cast 
in happened to fall in the pathway that led to the storehouse, 
where the powder and ammunition was kept ; in this path was 
much powder scattered, through the negligence of those that 
carried it to and fro, for the necessary supply of the defendants, 
which by this means taking fire, it ran in a moment to the 
storehouse, which suddenly was blown up, and with it Vice 
Admiral Binkes himself, and all his officers, only captain Van 
Dongen remained alive. This mischance being perceived by 
the French, they instantly ran with five hundred men, and 
possessed themselves of the castle : here they found three hun- 
dred men alive, whom they took prisoners, and transported into 
France. Monsieur d'Estrees, after this, commanded the cas- 
tle to be demolished, with other posts that might serve for any 
defence, as also all the houses standing upon the island : this 
done, he departed thence December 27, and arrived again in 
France, after a prosperous voyage. 



180 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER XXY. 

Captains Sharp, Coxon, Sawkins, and others, set sail for the Province of Da- 
rien, upon the Continent of America. — Their Designs to Pillage and Plunder 
in those Parts. — Number of their Ships, and strength of their Forces, by Sea 
and Land. 

At a place called Bocca del Toro was the general rendezvous 
of the fleet, which lately had taken and sacked Puerto Bello 
the second time ; that rich place having been taken once before, 
under the conduct of Sir Henry Morgan. At this place were 
two other vessels ; the one belonging to Captain Peter Harris, 
the other to Captain Richard Sawkins, two English privateers. 
Here we had the news of a peace concluded between the Span- 
iards and the Indians of Darien, who were commonly at war 
one with the other. Also that, since the conclusion of the said 
peace, they had been found very faithful to Captain Bournano, 
a French commander, in an attempt upon a place called Chepo, 
nigh the South Sea. Further, that the Indians had promised 
to conduct him unto a great and very rich place, named Toca- 
mora; whereupon Bournano promised them to return in three 
months with more ships and men. This made us agree to visit 
the said place, and in order thereto dispersed ourselves into sev- 
eral coves, (by the Spaniards called cuevas, i. e. hollow creeks 
under the coasts,) there to careen and fit our vessels for that 
purpose. Here, i. e. at Bocca del Toro, we found plenty of fat 
tortoises, the pleasantest meat in the world. Our vessels being 
refitted, we rendezvoused at an island called by us the Water- 
Key, and our strength was as followeth : — 

Tons. Guns. Men. 



Capt. Coxon, in 


a ship c 


)f 


SO 


8 


97 


Capt. Harris, in 


another 


•of 


150 


25 


107 


Capt. Bournano, 






90 


6 


86 


Capt. Sawkins, 






16 


1 


35 


Capt. Sharp, 






25 


2 


40 


Capt. Cook, 






35 


00 


43 


Capt. Alleston, 






18 


00 


24 


Capt. Row, 






20 


00 


25 


Capt. Macket, 


- 




14 


00 


20 



We sailed from thence March 23, 1679, and in our way 
touched at the islands called Zamblas. These islands reach 
eight leagues in length, lying fourteen leagues westward of the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMEHICA. 181 

River Darien. Being here at an anchor, many of the Indians, 
both men and women, came to see us ; some brought plantain, 
others other fruits, and venison, to exchange with us for beads, 
needles, knives, or any trifling bauble whereof they stand 
in need ; but they most covet axes and hatchets, for the felling 
of timber. The men here go naked, having only a sharp and 
hollow tip, made either of gold, silver, or bark, into which they 
thrust their privy members, which they fasten with a string 
about their middle. They wear as an ornament, in their noses, 
a gold or silver plate, in the form of a half-moon, which, when 
they drink, they hold up with one hand, while they lift the cup 
with the other. The men paint themselves sometimes with 
streaks of black, and the women with red : the women have 
in their noses a pretty thick ring of gold or silver, and cover 
themselves with a blanket only : they are generally well fea- 
tured ; among whom, I saw several fairer than the fairest of 
Europe, with hair as white as the finest flax : 'tis reported of 
them, that they see better in the dark than in the light. 

These Indians misliked our design for Tocamora, and, dis- 
suaded us from it, asserting that it would' prove too tedious a 
march, the way being so mountainous and uninhabited, that it 
would be extremely difficult to get provisions for our men. 
Withal, they proffered to guide us undescried, within a few 
leagues of the city of Panama, in case we were pleased to go 
thither, where we knew we should make a good voyage. 
Upon these, and other reasons which they gave us, we con- 
cluded to desist from the journey of Tocamora, and to proceed 
to Panama. These resolutions taken, Captain Bournano, and 
Captain Row's vessels separated from us, being all French, and 
not willing to go to Panama, they declaring themselves gener- 
ally against a long march by land ; so we left them at the Zam- 
blas. From thence an Indian captain, or chief commander, 
named Andraeas, conducted us to another island, called by the 
English the Golden Island, situated something to the west- 
ward of the mouth of the great River of Darien. At this isl- 
and we met, being in all seven sail, April 3, 1680. 

Here the Indians gave us notice of a town called Santa Ma- 
ria, situate on a great river of the same name, which runs into 
the South Sea, by the Gulf of San Miguel ; that in the town 
was kept a garrison of four hundred soldiers ; and that from 
this place much gold was carried to Panama, which was gath- 
ered from the mountains thereabouts ; that in case we should 
not find sufficient booty there, we might from thence proceed 
by sea to Panama, where we could not easily fail of our de- 
signs. This motion of the Indians we liked so well, that we 
16 



182 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

landed three hundred and thirty-one men, April 5, 1680, leav- 
ing Captains Alleston and Macket, with a party of seamen, to 
guard our ships in our absence, with which we intended to re- 
turn home. 

These men that were landed had each of them three or four 
cakes of bread (called by the English doughboys) for their 
provision of victuals ; and as for drink, the rivers afforded them 
enough. At our landing here, Captain Sharp was very faint 
and weak, having had a great fit of sickness, of which he was 
scarcely recovered. Our several companies that marched wore 
distinguished as follows : first, Captain Bartholomew Sharp, 
with his company, had a red flag, with a bunch of white and 
green ribbons: the second division, led by Captain Richard 
Sawkins, with his men, had a red flag, striped with yellow : 
the third and fourth, which were led by Captain Peter Harris, 
had two green flags, his company marching in two distinct di- 
visions. The fifth and sixth, led by Captain John Coxon, who 
had some of Alleston's and Macket's men joined unto his, made 
two divisions or companies, and had each of them a red flag : 
the seventh was led by Captain Edmund Cook, with red colors, 
striped with yellow, with a hand and sword for his device : all, 
or most of them, were armed with fuzee, pistol, and hanger. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

They march towards the Town of Santa Maria, with a Design to take it. — The 
Indian King of Darien meeteth them. — Difficulties of this March. 

Being landed on the coast of Darien, and divided into com- 
panies, as was mentioned in the preceding chapter, we be- 
gan our march towards Santa Maria, the Indians serving 
us for guides in that unknown country : thus we marched. at 
first through a small skirt of a wood, and then over a bay almost 
a league in length ; after that, we went two leagues directly up 
a woody valley, where we saw here and there an old planta- 
tion, and had a very good path to march in : there we came to 
the side of a river, which in most places was dry, and built us 
houses, or rather, huts, to lodge in. 

Here another Indian, who was a chief commander, a man of 
great, parts, named Captain Antonio, joined us : this Indian offi- 
cer mightily encouraged us to undertake the journey of Santa 
Maria, and promised to be our leader, saying, that he would 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 183 

have gone along with us presently, but that his child lay very 
sick ; however, he was assured it would die by next day, and 
then he would most certainly follow and overtake us : withal, 
he desired we would not lie in the grass, for fear of monstrous 
adders, which are very frequent in those places. Breaking some 
of the stones that lay in the river, we found them shine like 
sparks of gold. These stones are driven down from the neigh- 
boring mountains in times of flood. This day four of our men 
tired, and returned back to the ships ; so we remained, in all. 
three hundred and twenty-seven men, with six Indians to con- 
duct us : that night, some showers of rain fell. 

The next day of our march we mounted a very steep hill, 
and on the other side, at the foot thereof, we rested on the bank 
of the river, which Captain Andrseas told us ran into the 
South Sea, being the same river on which the town of Santa 
Maria was situated. Hence, we continued our march until 
noon, and then ascended another mountain, far higher than the 
former. Here we were often, and in many places, in great dan- 
ger, the mountain being so perpendicular, and the path so nar- 
row, that but one man at a time could pass. We arrived in the 
evening on the other side of the mountain, and lodged again 
by the side of the same river, having marched that day, accord- 
ing to our reckoning, about eighteen miles: this night, likewise, 
some rain fell. 

The next morning, being April 7, we marched all along the 
river aforementioned, crossing it often, almost at every half 
mile, sometimes up to the knees, and at other times up to the 
middle, in a very swift current. About noon we came to a place 
where we found some Indian houses ; these were very large 
and neat ; the sides were built with cabbage-trees, and the roofs 
with wild canes, thatched with palmetto royal, but much neater 
than ours at Jamaica; they had many partitions, or distinct 
ground rooms, but no ascent by stairs. At this place were four 
of these houses together, within a stone's throw of one another, 
each of them having a large plantain walk before it. Half a 
mile from this place lived the king, or chief captain of these 
Indians of Darien, who came to visit us in royal robes, with his 
queen and family. His crown was made of small white reeds, 
curiously woven, having no other top than its lining, which 
was red silk. Round about the middle of it was a thin plate 
of gold, about two inches broad, laced behind, in which stuck 
two or three ostrich's feathers ; about this plate went also a row 
of golden beads, which were bigger than ordinary peas, under- 
neath which, the red lining of the crown was seen. In his 
uose he wore a large plate of gold, in form of a half-moon j 



184' THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

and in each ear a great gold ring, nigh four inches diameter, 
with a round, thin plate of gold, of the same breadth, having a 
small hole in the centre, by which it hung to the ring. He 
was covered with a thin, white cotton robe, reaching to the 
small of his legs, and round its bottom was a fringe of the same, 
three inches deep; so that, by reason of the length of this robe, 
we could see no higher than his naked ankles. In his hand 
he had a long, bright lance, as sharp as any knife. With him 
he had three sons, each of them having a white robe, and their 
lances in their hands, but standing bare-headed before him, as 
did eight or nine persons more of his retinue or guard. His 
queen wore a red blanket, which was closely girt about her 
waist, and another that came loosely over her head and shoul- 
ders, like our old-fashioned striped hangings : she had a young 
child in her arms, and two daughters walked by her, both 
marriageable, with their faces almost covered with stripes or 
streaks of red, and about their neck and arms almost loaden 
with small beads, of several colors. These Indian women 
of the Province of Darien are generally very free, airy, and 
brisk ; yet withal very modest, and cautious in their husband's 
presence, of whose jealousy they stand in fear. With these 
Indians we made an exchange, or had a truck, as it is called, 
for knives, pins, needles, or any other such like trifles ; but in 
our dealing with them we found them to be very cunning. 
Here we rested ourselves for the space of one day ; and withal 
chose Captain Sawkins to lead the forlorn, unto whom, for 
that purpose, we gave the choice of fourscore men. The 
king ordered us each man to have three plantains, with suga 
canes to suck, by way of a present ; but when these were con- 
sumed, if we would not truck, we must have starved, for the 
king himself did not refuse to deal for his plantains : this sort 
of fruit is first reduced to mash, then laid between leaves of 
the same tree, and so used with water, after which preparation 
they call it miscelaw. 

April 9, we continued our march along the banks of the river 
above mentioned, finding in our way here and there a house. 
The owners of the said houses would most commonly stand at 
the door, and give, as we passed by, to every one of us, either 
ripe plantain, or some sweet cazove root. Some of them would 
count us, by dropping a grain of corn for each man that passed 
before them, for they know no greater number, nor can tell 
farther than twenty. That night we arrived at three great In- 
dian houses, where we took up our lodgings, the weather being 
clear and serene all night. 

The next day, Captain Sharp, Captain Coxon, and Captain 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 185 

Cook, with about threescore and ten of our men, embarked 
themselves in fourteen canoes upon the river to glide down the 
stream : among this number I did also embark, and we had in 
our company our Indian Captain Andreeas, of whom mention 
was made above ; and two Indians more in each canoe, to pilot 
or guide us down the river : but if we were tired in travelling 
by land before, certainly we were in a worse condition now in 
our canoes ; for at the distance of almost every stone's cast 
we were constrained to quit and get out of our boats, and haul 
them over either sands or rocks ; at other times, over trees that 
lay cross and filled up the river, so that they hindered our nav- 
igation ; yea, several times over the very points of land itself. 
That night we built ourselves huts, to shelter in upon the river 
side, and rested our wearied limbs till next morning. 

The eleventh we prosecuted our journey all day long, with 
the same fatigue and toil as we had done the day before. 
At night 'came a tiger, and looked on us for some while, but 
we dared not to fire at the animal, fearing we should be de- 
scried by the sound of our fuzees ; the Spaniards, as we were 
told, not being at much distance from that place. 

But the next day, being April 12, our pain and labor was 
rather doubled than diminished, not only for the difficulties of 
the way, which were intolerable, but chiefly for the absence of 
our main body of men, from whom we had parted the day be- 
fore : for now, hearing no news of them, we grew extremely 
jealous of the Indians, and their counsels, suspecting it a design 
of those people thus to divide our forces, and then betray us 
to the Spaniards, our implacable enemies. That night we 
rested ourselves by building of huts, as we had done, and hath 
been mentioned, before. 

The next day, being Tuesday, we continued our navigation 
down the river, and arrived at a beachy point of land, where 
another arm joineth the same river : here, as we understood, the 
Indians of Darien did usually rendezvous, whensoever they 
drew up in a body with intention to fight their ancient ene- 
mies, the Spaniards. Here, also, we made a halt, and staid 
for the rest of our forces and company, the Indians having now 
sent to seek them, being themselves not a little concerned at 
our dissatisfaction and jealousies. In the afternoon our com- 
panions came up with us, and were very glad to see us, they 
having been in no less fear for us than we had been in for them : 
we continued and rested there that night also, with design to 
fit our arms for action, which now, as we were told, was nigh 
at hand. 

We departed from thence early the next morning, which was 
16* 



186 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

the last day of our march, being in all, now, the number of 
threescore and eight canoes, wherein were embarked threa 
hundred and twenty-seven of us Englishmen, and fifty Indians, 
who served us for guides. To the point above mentioned, the 
Indians had hitherto guided our canoes with long poles, or 
sticks, but now we made ourselves oars and paddles, to row 
withal, and thereby made what speed we could : thus we rowed 
with all haste imaginable, and on the river happened to meet 
two or three Indian canoes, that were laden with plantains. 
About midnight we arrived, and landed at the distance of half 
a mile, or thereabouts, from the town of Santa Maria, whither 
our march was all along intended. The place where we landed 
was very muddy, insomuch that we were constrained to lay 
our paddles upon it, and withal, lift ourselves up by the boughs 
of the trees, to support our bodies from sinking : afterwards we 
were forced to cut our way through the woods for some space, 
where we took up our lodgings for that night, for fear of being 
discovered by the enemy, whom we were so near. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



They take the Town of Santa Maria, with no loss of Men, but meet not with 

" Country, and 
lime, the City 



so much Booty as was expected. — Description of the Place, Country, and 
River adjacent. — They resolve to go and plunder, a Second Th 



of Panama. 

The next morning, which was Thursday, April 15, about 
break of day, we heard from the town a small arm discharged, 
and after that a drum beating a reveille. With this, we roused 
from our sleep, and taking to our arms, we put ourselves in or- 
der, and marched towards the town. As soon as we came out 
of the woods into the open ground, we were descried by the 
Spaniards, who had received beforehand intelligence of our 
coming, and were prepared to receive us, having already con- 
veyed away all their treasure of gold, and sent it to Panama. 
They ran immediately into a large palisado fort, having each 
pale or post twelve feet high, and began to fire very briskly at 
us, as we came : but our vanguard ran up to the place, and 
pulling down two or three of their palisadoes, entered the fort 
instantly, and made themselves masters thereof. In this action 
there were not fifty of our men that came up, before the fort 
was taken : and on our side only"two were wounded, and not 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 187 

one killed : notwithstanding, within the place were found twc 
hundred and threescore men, besides which number, two hun- 
dred others were said to be absent, being gone up into the 
country, unto the mines, to fetch down gold, or rather, to con- 
vey away what was already in the town. This golden treas- 
ure cometh down another branch of this river unto Santa Ma- 
ria, from the neighboring mountains, where are thought to be 
the richest mines of the Indies, or, at least, of all these parts 
of the western world. Of the Spaniards were killed in the as- 
sault twenty-six, and wounded to the number of sixteen more: 
but their governor, their priest, and all, or most, of their chief 
men made their escape by flight. 

Having taken the fort, we expected to find here a considera- 
ble town belonging to it ; but it proved to be only some wild 
houses made of cane, the place being chiefly a garrison, de- 
signed to keep the Indians in subjection, who bear a mortal 
hatred, and are often apt to rebel against the Spaniards. But 
as bad a place as it was, our fortune was much worse ; for we 
came only three days too late, or else we had met with three 
hundred weight of gold, which was carried thence to Panama, 
in a bark, that is sent from thence twice or thrice every year, 
to fetch what gold is brought to Santa Maria from the moun- 
tains. This river, called by the name of the town, is here- 
abouts twice as broad as the River of Thames is at London, 
and floweth above threescore miles upwards, rising to the height 
of two fathom and a half, at the town itself. As soon as we 
had taken the place, the Indians who belonged to our company, 
and had served us for guides, came up to the town : for while 
they heard the noise of the guns, they were in a great conster- 
nation, and dared not approach the palisadoes, but had hid 
themselves so well in a small hollow ground, that the bullets, 
while we were fighting, flew over their heads. 

Here we found and redeemed the eldest daughter of the king 
of Darien, of whom we made mention above : she had, as it 
should seem, been forced away from her father's house by one 
of the garrison, (which rape had greatly incensed him against 
the Spaniard,) and was with child by him. After the fight, 
the Indians destroyed as many more of the Spaniards as we 
had done in the assault, by taking them into the adjoining 
woods, and there stabbing them to death with their lances : but 
as soon as we understood this, their barbarous cruelty, we hin- 
dered them from taking any more out of the fort, where we 
confined them all prisoners. Captain Sawkins, with a small 
party of ten more, put himself into a canoe, and went down 
the river to pursue and stop, if it were possible, those that had 



188 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

escaped, who were the chief of the town and garrison. But 
now our great expectations of making a huge purchase of gold 
at this place being totally vanished, we were unwilling to come 
so far for nothing, or go back empty handed ; especially, con- 
sidering what vast riches were to be had at no great distance 
from thence. Hereupon we resolved to go for Panama, which 
place, if we could take, we were assured we should get treasure 
enough to satisfy our hungry appetite of gold and riches ; that 
city being the receptacle of all the plate, jewels, and gold that 
is digged out of the mines of all Potosi and Peru. In order to 
it, therefore, and to please the humors of some of our company, 
we made choice of Captain Coxon to be our general, or com- 
mander-in-chief. Before our departure, we sent back what 
small booty we had taken here, by some prisoners, and these 
under the charge of twelve of our men, to convey it to the 
ships. 

Thus we prepared to go forward on that dangerous enterprise 
of Panama. But the Indians who had conducted us, having 
gotten from us what knives, scissors, axes, needles, and beads 
they could obtain, would not stay any longer, but all, or the 
greatest part of them, returned to their home. Notwithstand- 
ing which, the king himself, Captain Andrseas, Captain Antonio, 
the king's son, called by the Spaniards Bonete d'Oro, or King 
Golden Cap, as also his kinsman, would not be persuaded by 
their falling off to leave us, but resolved to go to Panama, out 
of the desire they had to see that place taken and sacked. 
Nay, the king promised, if there should be occasion, to join us 
with a very great number of men. Besides which promises, 
we had also another very considerable encouragement to under- 
take this journey ; for the Spaniard who had forced away the 
king's daughter, as was mentioned above, fearing lest we should 
leave him to the mercy of the Indians, who would have had 
but little on him, having showed themselves so cruel unto the 
rest of his companions, for the safety of his life, had promised 
to lead us not only into the town, but even to the very door of 
the governor of Panama's bed-chamber, and that we should 
take him by the hand, and seize both him and the whole city, 
before we should be discovered by the Spaniards, either before 
or after our arrival. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 189 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The Buccaneers leave the Town of Santa Maria, and proceed, by Sea, to take 
Panama. — The extreme Difficulties, with Sundry Accidents and Dangers 
of that Voyage. 

Having been in possession of the town of Santa Maria only 
the space of two days, we departed from thence on Saturday, 
April 17, 1680. We embarked all in thirty-five canoes and a 
periagua, which we had taken here lying at anchor before the 
town. Thus we sailed, or rather, rowed, down the river, in 
quest of the South Sea, upon which Panama is seated, towards 
the Gulf of Belona, where we were to enter that ocean. Our 
prisoners, the Spaniards, begged very earnestly they might be 
permitted to go with us, and not be left abandoned to the mer- 
cy of the Indians, who would show them no favor, and whose 
cruelty they so much feared. But we had much ado to find a 
sufficient number of boats for ourselves, the Indians that left 
us having taken with them, either by consent or stealth, so 
many canoes. Yet, notwithstanding, they soon after either 
found bark-logs, or old canoes, and by that means shifted so 
well for their lives, as to come along with us. Before our de- 
parture, we burnt both the fort, the church, and the town, 
which was done at the request of the king, he being extremely- 
incensed against it. 

Among these canoes, it was my misfortune to have one that 
was very heavy, and consequently sluggish. By this means 
we were left behind the rest a little way, our number being 
only four men, besides myself, that were embarked therein. 
As the tide fell, it left several shoals of sand naked ; and hence, 
not knowing the true channel amongst such variety of streams, 
we happened to steer within a shoal above two miles, before 
we perceived our error. Hereupon we were forced to lie by 
till high water ; for to row in such heavy boats as those, against 
tide, is a thing totally impossible. As soon as the tide began 
to turn, we rowed away in prosecution of our voyage, and, 
withal, made what haste we could ; but all our endeavors were 
in vain, for we neither could find nor overtake our compan- 
ions. Thus about ten of the clock at night, it being low 
water, we stuck up an oar in the river, and slept, by turns, in 
our canoe ; several showers of rain falling all night long, with 
which we were wet to the skin. 

But the next morning, as soon as day appeared, we rowed 



190 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

away down the river, as before, in pursuit of our people. Hav- 
ing rowed about two leagues, we were so fortunate as to over- 
take them ; for they had lain that night at an Indian hut, or 
embarcadero, that is to say, landing-place, and had been filling 
of water till then in the morning. Being arrived at the place, 
they told us that we must not omit to fill our jars there with 
water, otherwise we should meet with none in the space of 
six days' time. Hereupon we went, every one of us, the 
distance of a quarter of a mile from the embarcadero, unto a 
little pond, to fill out water in calabazas, making withal what 
haste we could back to our canoe. But when we returned, we 
found not one of our men, they all being departed, and already 
got out of sight. Such is the procedure of these wild men, 
that they care not in the least whom they lose of their com- 
pany or leave behind. We were now more troubled in our 
minds than before, fearing lest we should fall into the same 
misfortune we had so lately overcome. 

Hereupon we rowed after them as fast as we possibly could, 
but all in vain. For here we found such huge numbers of isl- 
ands, greater and lesser, as also keys about the mouth of the 
river, that it was not difficult for us, who were unacquainted 
with the river, to lose ourselves a second time amongst them. 
Yet, notwithstanding, though with much trouble and toil, we 
found at last that mouth of the river that is called by the 
Spaniards Bocca Chica, or the Little Mouth. But as it happened, 
it was now young flood, and the stream ran very violently 
against us ; so that, though we were not above a stone's cast 
from the said mouth, and this was not a league broad, yet we 
could not by any means come near it. Hence we were forced 
to put ashore, which we did accordingly, till the time of high 
water. We hauled our canoe close by the bushes, and when 
we got out, we fastened our rope to a tree, which the tide had 
almost covered, for it flows here near four fathom deep. 

As soon as tide began to turn, we rowed away from thence 
to an island, distant about a league and a half from the mouth 
of the river, in the Gulf of San Miguel. Here it went very 
hard with us, whensoever any wave dashed against the sides 
of our canoe ; for it was almost twenty feet long, and yet not 
quite one foot and a half in breadth, where it was at the broad- 
est ; so that we had just room enough to sit down in her, and 
a little water would easily have both filled and overwhelmed 
us. At the island aforesaid, we took up our resting-place for 
that night, though for {he loss of our company, and the great 
dangers we were in, the sorrowfullest night that, until then, I 
ever experimented in my whole life : for it rained impetuously 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 191 

all night long, insomuch that we were wet from head to foot, 
and had not one dry thread about us ; neither, through the vio- 
lence of the rain, were able to keep any fire, wherewith to 
warm or dry us. The tide ebbeth here a good half mile from 
the mark of high water, and leaveth bare wonderful high and 
sharp-pointed rocks. We passed this heavy and tedious night 
without one minute of sleep, being all very sorrowful to see our- 
selves so remote from the rest of our companions, as also to- 
tally destitute of all human comfort : for a vast sea surrounded 
us on one side, and the mighty power of our enemies, the 
Spaniards, on the other; neither could we descry at any hand 
the least thing to relieve us, all that we could see being the 
wide sea, high mountains, and rocks : meanwhile, ourselves 
were confined to an egg-shell instead of a boat, without so much 
as a few clothes to defend us from the injuries of the weather ; 
for at that time none of us had a shoe to our feet. We searched 
the whole key, to see if we could find any water, but found 
none. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Ship-wreck of Mr. Ringvose, the Author of this Narrative. — He is taken by 
the Spaniards, and miraculously by them preserved. — Several other Acci- 
dents and other Disasters which befel him after the Loss of his Compan- 
ions, till he found them again. — Description of the Gulf of Vallona. 

On Monday, April the 19th, at break of day, we hauled our 
canoe into the water again, and departing from the island afore 
mentioned, wet and cold as we were, we rowed towards the 
Punta de San Lorenzo, or Point S. Lawrence. In our way 
we met with several islands, which lie straggling thereabouts. 
But now we were so hard put to it by the smallness of our 
vessel, and- being in an open sea, that it was become the 
work of one man, yea sometimes of two, to cast out the water 
which came in on all sides of our canoe. After struggling for 
some while with these difficulties, as we came near one of those 
islands, a sea came and overturned our boat, by which means 
we were all forced to swim for our lives : but we soon got to 
shore, and our. canoe came tumbling after us. Our arms were 
fast lashed to the inside of the boat, and our locks as well cased 
and waxed down as was possible ; so were also our cartouch 
boxes and powder horns ; but all our bread and fresh water 
was utterly spoiled and lost. 



192 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Our canoe being tumbled on shore by the force of the waves, 
our first business was to take out and clean our arms. This 
we had scarcely done, but we saw another canoe run the same 
misfortune at a little distance to leward of us, amongst a great 
number of rocks that bounded the island. The persons that 
were cast away proved to be six Spaniards of the garrison of 
Santa Maria, who had found an old canoe, and had followed us 
to escape the cruelty of the Indians. They presently came to 
us, and made us a fire, on which we broiled our meat, and ate 
it amicably together. But we were in great want of water, or 
any other drink to our victuals, not knowing in the least where 
to get any. Our canoe was thrown up by the waves to the 
edge of the water, and there was no great fear of its splitting, 
as being full six inches on the sides thereof. But that in which 
the Spaniards came split itself against the rocks, as being old 
and slender, into a hundred pieces. Though we were thus 
shipwrecked and driven ashore, as I have related, yet at other 
times this Gulf of San Miguel is a mere mill-pond for smooth- 
ness of water. 

My company was altogether for returning, aud to proceed no 
farther, but rather for living amongst the Indians, in case they 
could not reach the ships we had left behind us in the Northern 
Sea. But with rnuch ado I prevailed with them to go forward, 
at least one day longer, and in case, we found not our people 
the next day, that then I would be willing to do any thing 
which they should think fit. Thus we spent two or three 
hours of the day in consulting about our affairs, and withal 
keeping a man to watch and look out on all sides for fear of 
any surprisal by the Indians, or other enemies. About the time 
that we were come to a conclusion in our debates, our watch- 
man, by chance, spied an Indian, who, as soon as he saw us, 
ran into the woods. I sent immediately two of my company 
after him, who overtook him, and found him to be one of our 
friendly Indians. He carried them to a place not far distant 
from thence, where seven more of his company were, with a 
great canoe which they had brought with them. They came 
to the place where I was with the rest of my company, and 
seemed to be glad to meet us on that island. I asked them, by 
signs, for the main body of our company, and they gave me to 
understand, that in case we would go with them in their canoe, 
which was much bigger than ours, we should be up with the 
party by next morning. This news, as may easily be sup- 
posed, not a little rejoiced our hearts. 

Presently after this friendly invitation, they asked who the 
other six men were whom they saw in our company, for they 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 193 

easily perceived us not to be all of one and the same coat and 
lingua. We told them they were Wankers, which is the name 
they commonly give to the Spaniards. Their next question 
was, if they should kill them. But I answered them, "No, by 
no means ; I would not consent to have it done ; " with which 
answer they seemed to be satisfied for that present. But a lit- 
tle while after, my back being turned, my company thinking 
they should oblige the Indians thereby, beckoned to them to 
kill the Spaniards. With this, the poor creatures, perceiving 
the danger that threatened them, made a sad shriek and outcry, 
and I came time enough to save all their lives: but withal, I 
was forced to give my consent they should have one of them, 
to make him their slave. Hereupon I gave the canoe that I 
came in to the five Spaniards remaining, and bid them get away 
and shift for their lives, lest those cruel Indians should not keep 
their word, and they run again the same danger they had so 
lately escaped. Having sent them away, I rested myself a 
while, and took a survey of this gulf and the mouth of the river. 
. But now, thanks be to God, joining company with those In- 
dians, we were got into a very large canoe, the which, for its big- 
ness, was better able to carry twenty men, than our own, that we 
had brought, to carry five. The Indians had also fitted a very 
good sail to the said canoe ; so that, having now a fresh and strong 
gale of wind, we set sail from thence, and made therewith 
brave way, to the infinite joy and comfort of our hearts, seeing 
ourselves so well accommodated, and so happily rid of the mise- 
ries we but lately had endured. We had now a smooth and easy 
passage, after such tedious and laborious pains as we had sus- 
tained in coming so far since we left Santa Maria. Under the 
point of St. Lawrence mentioned above, is a very great rippling 
of the sea, occasioned by a strong current which runneth here- 
abouts, and which, oftentimes, almost filled our boat with its 
dashes, as we sailed. This evening, after our departure from 
the island where we were cast away, it rained vehemently for 
several hours, and the night proved to be very dark. About 
nine of the clock that night, we descried two fires on the shore 
of the continent over against us. These fires were no sooner per- 
ceived by the Indians of our canoe, but they began to shout for 
joy, and cry out, Captain Antonio, Captain Andrasas, the names 
of their Indian captains and leaders ; and to affirm, they were 
assured those fires were made by their companions. Hence 
they made for the shore, towards those fires, as fast as they 
could drive ; but as soon as our canoe came amongst the break- 
ers, nigh the shore, out came from the woods above threescore 
Spaniards, with clubs and other arms, and laying hold on our 
17 



194 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

canoe on both sides thereof, hauled it out of the water quite 
dry ; so that by this means we were all suddenly taken and 
made their prisoners. I laid hold of my gun, thinking to make 
some defence for myself; but all was in vain ; for they soon 
seized me between four or five of them, and hindered me from 
action. In the mean while, our Indians leaped overboard, and 
got away very nimbly into the woods. My companions stand- 
ing amazed at what had happened, and the manner of our 
surprisal, I asked them, presently, if any of them could speak 
either French or English. But they answered, No. Hereupon, 
as well as I could, I discoursed to some of them who \vc\-e 
more intelligent than the rest, in Latin, and by degrees came to 
understand their condition. These were Spaniards who had 
been turned here ashore by our English party, who left them 
upon this coast, lest by carrying them nearer to Panama any 
of them should make their escape, and discover our march to- 
wards the city. They had me, presently after I was taken, into 
a small hut which they had built, covered with boughs, and 
made there great shouts for joy, because they had. taken us ; 
designing in their minds to use us very severely for coming into 
those parts, and especially for taking and plundering their town 
of Santa Maria. But meanwhile the captain of those Spaniards 
was examining me, in came the poor Spaniard that was come 
along with us, and reported how kind I had been to him and 
the rest of his companions, by saving their lives from the cru- 
elty of the Indians. 

The captain having heard him, arose from his seat immedi- 
ately and embraced me ; saying, that we Englishmen were very 
friendly enemies, and good people, but that the Indians were 
very rogues, and a treacherous nation. Withal, he desired me 
to sit down by him, and to eat part of such victuals as our com- 
panions had left them when they were turned ashore. Then 
he told me, that for the kindness I had showed unto his coun- 
trymen, he gave us all our lives and liberties, which otherwise 
he would certainly have taken from us. And though he could 
scarcely be persuaded in his mind to spare the Indians' lives, 
yet for my sake he did pardon them all, and I should have them 
with me, in case I could find them. Thus he bid me like- 
wise take my canoe, and go, in God's name ; saying withal, he 
wished us as fortunate as we were generous. Hereupon I took 
my leave of him. I searched out, and at last found my In- 
dians, who, for fear, had hid themselves in the bushes adjoining 
to the neighboring woods, where they lay concealed. Having 
found them, the captain led me very civilly down to the canoe, 
and bidding my companions and the Indians get in after me, as 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 195 

they at first hauled us ashore, so now again they pushed us off 
to sea, by a sudden and strange vicissitude of fortune. All that 
night it rained very hard, as was mentioned above ; neither 
durst we put any more ashore at any place, it being all along 
such, as by mariners is commonly called an iron coast. 

The next morning being come, we sailed and paddled, or 
rowed, till about ten of the clock ; at which time we espied a 
canoe making towards us with all speed imaginable. Being 
come up with us, and in view, it proved to be one of our Eng- 
lish company, who mistaking our canoe for a Spanish peria- 
gua, was coming in all haste to attack us. We were 'infinitely 
glad to meet them, and they presently conducted us to the rest 
of our company, who were at that instant coming from a deep 
bay, which lay behind a high point of rocks, where they had 
lain at anchor, all that night and morning. We were all mu- 
tually rejoiced to see one another again, they having given 
both me and my companions for lost. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

The Buccaneers prosecute their Voyage till they come -within Sight of Pan- 
ama. — They" take several Barks and Prisoners by the Way. — Are descried 
by the Spaniards, before their Arrival. — They order the Indians to kill the 
Prisoners. 

From the place where we rejoined our English forces, we 
all made our way towards a high hammock of land, as it ap- 
peared at a distance, but was nothing else than an island seven 
leagues distant from the bay afore mentioned. On the highest 
part of this island the Spaniards keep a watch, or look out, (for 
so it is termed by the seamen,) for fear of pirates, or other ene- 
mies. That evening we arrived at the island, and being landed, 
went up a very steep place, till we came to a little hut where 
the watchman lodged. We took by surprisal the old man who 
watched in the place, but happened not to see us, till we were 
got into his plantain walk, before the lodge. He told us in his 
examination, that we were not as yet descried by the Spaniards 
of Panama, or any others that he knew -.which relation of the 
old man much encouraged us to go forwards with our design 
of surprising that rich city. This place, if I took its name 
right is called Farol de Plantanos, or, in English, Plantain 
Wutch. 



196 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Hero, a little before night, a certain bark came to an anchor, 
at the outside of the island, which was instantly descried by 
us. Hereupon we speedily manned out two canoes, who went 
under the shore, and surprised the said boat. Having ex- 
amined the persons that were on board, we found she had 
been absent the space of eight days from Panama, and had 
landed soldiers at a point of land not far distant from this 
island, with intention to fight and curb- certain Indians and Ne- 
groes, who had done much hurt in the country thereabouts. 
The bark being taken, most of our men endeavored to get 
into her, but more especially those who had the lesser canoes. 
Thus there embarked thereon to the number of one hundred 
and thirty-seven of our company, together with that sea artist, 
and valiant commander, Captain Bartholomew Sharp. With 
him went also on board Captain Cook, whom we mentioned at 
the beginning of this history. The remaining part of that 
night we lay at the key of the said island, with intent to pros- 
ecute our voyage the next day. 

Morning being come, I changed my canoe and embarked my- 
self in another, which, though it was something lesser than the 
former, yet was furnished with better company. Departing 
from this island, we rowed all day long over shoal water, at 
the distance of about a league from land, having sometimes not 
above four or five feet water, and white ground : in the af- 
ternoon we descried a bark at sea, and instantly gave her chase ; 
but the canoe in which was Captain Harris happened to come 
up the first with her, who, after a sharp dispute, took her. Be- 
ing taken, we put on board the said bark thirty men : but the 
wind would not suffer the other bark in chasing to come up 
with us. This pursuit of the vessel did so far hinder us in our 
voyage, and divide us asunder, that night coming on presently 
after, we lost one another, and could no longer keep in a body 
together ; hereupon we laid our canoe ashore, to take up our 
rest for that night, at the distance of two miles, or thereabouts, 
from high-water mark, and about four leagues to leeward of 
the Island Chepillo, to which place our course was then 
directed. 

The next morning, as soon as the water began to float us, 
we rowed away from the fore-mentioned Island Chepillo, where 
by assignation our general rendezvous was to be: in our way 
we espied a bark under sail, as we had done the day before. 
Captain Coxon's canoe was the first that came up with her, but 
a small breeze freshening at that instant, she got away from 
him after the first onset, killing in the said canoe one Mr. Bull, 
and wounding two others. We presently conjectured that this 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 197 

bark would get before us to Panama, and give intelligence of 
our coming to those of the town, all which happened accord- 
ingly. It was two of the clock that afternoon, before all our 
canoes could come together, and join one another, as was agreed 
at Chepillo. We took at that island fourteen prisoners, between 
negroes and mulattoes, also great stores of plantains, and good 
water, together with two fat hogs ; but now, believing that ere 
this we had been descried at Panama, by the bark afore men- 
tioned, we resolved among ourselves to waste no time, but to 
hasten away from the said island, to the intent we might at 
least be able to surprise and take their shipping, and by that 
means make ourselves masters of those seas, in case we could 
not get the town, which we now judged almost impossible to 
be done. At Chepillo, we took also a periagua, which we 
found at anchor before the island, and presently we put some 
men on board her. We staid here only a few hours, so that 
about four o'clock in the evening we rowed away from thence, 
designing to reach Panama before the next morning, it being 
only seven leagues between that city and Chepillo ; but before 
we departed from Chepillo, it was judged convenient by our 
commanders, for certain reasons which I could not dive into, to 
rid their hands of the prisoners which we had taken, and here- 
upon orders were given to our Indians, who they knew would 
perform them very willingly to fight, or rather to murder and 
slay the said prisoners upon the shore, and that in the view of 
the whole fleet. This they instantly went about, being glad 
of this opportunity to revenge themselves upon their enemies, 
though in cold blood ; but the prisoners, although they had no 
arms wherewith to defend themselves, forced their way through 
those barbarous Indians, in spite of their lances, bows, and ar- 
rows, and got into the woods of the island, only one man of 
them being killed. We rowed all night long, though much 
rain fell. 



, CHAPTER XXXI. 

They arrive within sight of Panama ; are encountered by three small Men-of-War : 
they fight them with only sixty- eight Men, and utterly defeat them, taking 
two of the said Vessels. — Description of that bloody Fight. — They take several 
Ships at the Isle of Perico, before Panama. 

The next morning, which was April 23, 1680, that day be- 
ing dedicated to St. George, our patron of England, we came be- 
17 * 



198 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

fore sunrise within view of the city of Panama, which makes 
n very pleasant prospect to the seaward ; soon after we saw also 
the ships belonging to the said city, which lay at anchor at an 
island called Perico, distant only two leagues from Panama. 
On the aforesaid island are several storehouses built there, to 
receive the goods delivered ont of the ships; at that time there 
rid at anchor at Perico five great ships, and three pretty big 
barks, called barcos de la armadillo,, or little men-of-war ; the 
word armadillo signifying a little fleet. These had been sud- 
denly manned ont, with design to fight us. and prevent any 
further attempts we should make upon the city or coasts of 
those seas. As soon as they espied us, they instantly weighed 
anchor, and got under sail, coming directly to meet us. Our 
two periaguas being heavy, could not row so fast as we that 
were in the canoes, so that we were got a pretty way before 
them. In our five canoes (for so many we were in company) we 
had only thirty-six men, and these but in a very unfit condition 
to fight, as being tired with so much rowing, and so few in 
number, in comparison of the enemy that came against us. 
They sailed towards us directly before the wind, insomuch that 
we feared lest they should run us down before it ; hereupon 
we rowed up into the wind's eye, as the seamen term it, and 
got close to the windward of them. Meanwhile we were doing 
this, our lesser periagua came up with us, in which were thirty- 
two more of our company; so that we were in all sixty-eight 
men that were engaged in the fight of that day ; the king him- 
self being one of our number, who was in the periagua afore 
mentioned. In the vessel that was admiral of these three men- 
of-war were fourscore and six biscayners, who have the repute 
of being the best mariners, and also the best soldiers, amongst 
the Spaniards. These were all volunteers, who came designed- 
ly to show their valor, under the command of Don Jacinto de 
Barabona, who was high admiral of those seas. In the second 
were seventy-seven negroes, who were commanded by an old 
and stout Spaniard, a native of Andalusia in Spain, named Don 
Francisco de Peralta. In the third and last were sixty-five 
mestizos, or mulattoes, or tawny Moors, commanded by Don 
Diego de Carabaxal ; so that they were in all two hundred and 
•twenty-eight. The commanders had strict orders given them, 
and their resolutions were to give quarters to none of the pirates 
or buccaneers ; but such bloody commands seldom prosper. 

Captain Sawkin's canoe, and also that wherein I was, were 
much to leeward of the rest, so that the ship of Don Diego de 
Carabaxal came between us two, and fired presently on me to 
windward," and on him to leeward, wounding with these broad- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 199 

sides four men in his canoe, and one in that I was in, but he 
paid so dear for his passage between us, that he was not quick 
in coming about again, and making the same way ; for we 
killed, with our first volley, several of his men upon the decks ; 
thus we got also to windward, as the rest were before. The 
admiral of the armadilla, or little fleet, came up with us instantly, 
scarce giving us lime to charge, thinking to pass by us all with 
as little damage as the first of his ships had done, but as it 
happened it fell out much worse with him, for we were so for- 
tunate as to kill the man at the helm, so that his ship ran into 
the wind, and her sails lay a-back ; by this means we had time 
to come all up under her stern, and firing continually into his 
vessel, we killed all that came to the helm ; besides which 
slaughter, we cut asunder his main sheet and brace with our 
shot. Now also the third vessel, in which Captain Peralta was, 
was coming to the aid of their general ; hereupon Captain Saw- 
kins, who had changed his canoe, and was gone into the peri- 
agua, left the admiral to us four canoes, (for his own was quite 
disabled,) and met the said Peralta. Between him and Captain 
Sawkins the dispute was very hot, lying aboard each other, 
and both giving and receiving death as fast as they could charge. 
While we were thus engaged, the first ship tacked about, and 
came up to relieve the admiral; but we perceiving it, and fore- 
seeing how hard it would go with us if we should be beaten 
from the admiral's stern, determined to prevent his design. 
Hereupon two of our canoes, to wit, Captain Springer's and 
my own, stood off to meet him. He made up directly towards 
the admiral, who stood upon the quarter-deck, waving unto 
him with a handkerchief so to do ; but we engaged him so 
closely, in the middle of his way, that, had lie not given us 
the helm, and made away from us, we had certainly been on 
board him. We killed so many of the men, that the vessel had 
scarce men enough left alive, or un wounded, to carry her off; 
yet the wind now blowing fresh, they made shift to get away 
from us, and save their lives. 

The vessel which was to relieve the admiral being thus put 
to flight, we came about again upon the admiral, and all to- 
gether gave a loud halloo, Which was answered by our men in 
the periagua, though at a distance from us. At that time we 
came so close under the stern of the admiral that we wedged 
up the rudder, and withal, killed both the admiral himself and 
the chief pilot of his ship; so that now they were almost quite 
disabled and disheartened likewise, seeing what a bloody mas- 
sacre we had made among them with our shot. Hereupon, 
two thirds of his men being killed, and many others wounded, 



200 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

they cried for quarter, which had several times been offered to 
them, and as stoutly denied till then. Captain Coxon boarded 
the admiral, and took with him Captain Harris, who had been 
shot through both his legs as he boldly adventured up along 
the side of the ship. This vessel being thus taken, we put on 
board her all our wounded men, and instantly manned two of 
our canoes to go and aid Captain Sawkins, who now had been 
three times beaten from on board Peralta, such variant defence 
had he made. And, indeed, to give our enemies their due, 
no men in the world did ever act more bravely than these 
Spaniards. 

Thus coming up close under Peralta's side, we gave him a 
full volley of shot, and expected to have the like return from 
him again ; but on a sudden we saw his men blown up that 
were abaft the mast, some of them falling on the deck, and 
others into the sea. This disaster was soon perceived by their 
valiant Captain Peralta ; but he leaped overboard, and, in spite 
of all our shot, got several of them into the ship again, though 
he was much burnt in both his hands himself. But as one 
misfortune seldom cometh alone, meanwhile he was recovering 
these men, to reinforce his ship withal, and renew the fight, 
another jar of powder took lire forward, and blew up several 
others upon the forecastle. Among this smoke, and under the 
opportunity thereof, Captain Sawkins laid them on board, and 
took the ship. Soon after they were taken, I went on board 
Captain Peralta, to see what condition they were in. And, in- 
deed, such a miserable sight I never saw in my life ; for there 
was not a man but was either killed, desperately wounded, or 
horribly burnt with powder, insomuch, that their black skins 
were turned, white in several places, the powder having torn it 
from their flesh and bones. Having compassionated their mis- 
ery, I went afterwards on board the admiral, to observe like- 
wise the condition of his ship and men. Here I saw what did 
astonish me, and will scarcely be believed by any but ourselves 
who saw it. There were found on board this ship but twenty- 
five men alive, whose number before the fight had been four 
score and six, as was said above ; so that three score and one, 
out of so small a number, were destroyed in the battle. But, 
"what is more, of these twenty-five men, only eight were able 
to bear arms, all the rest being desperately wounded, and by 
their wounds totally disabled to make any resistance or defend 
themselves. Their blood ran down the decks in whole streams, 
and scarce one place in the ship was found that was free from 
blood. 

Having possessed ourselves of these two armadilla vessels, 



THE BUCCANEERS OE AMERICA. 201 

or little men-of-war, Captain Sawkins asked the prisoners how 
many men there might be on board the greatest ship that we 
could see from thence, lying in the harbor of the Island of 
Perico, above mentioned, as also in the others that were some- 
thing smaller. Captain Peralta, hearing these questions, dis- 
suaded him as much as he could from attempting them, say- 
ing, that in the biggest alone there were three hundred and 
fifty men, and that he would find the rest too well provided for 
defence against his small number. But one of his men, who 
lay dying upon the deck, contradicted him as he was speaking, 
and told Captain Sawkins there was not one man on board any 
of those ships that were in- view ; for they had all been taken 
olit of them to fight us in these three vessels called the arma- 
dilla, or little fleet. Unto this relation we gave credit, as pro- 
ceeding from a dying man ; and, steering our course to the 
island, we went on board them, and found, as he had said, not 
one person there. The biggest of these ships, which was 
called La Santissima Trinidad, or the Blessed Trinity, they had 
set on fire, made a hole in her, and loosened her foresail. But 
we quenched the fire with all speed, and stopped the leak. This 
being done, we put our wounded men on board her, and made 
her for the present our hospital. 

Having surveyed our own loss, we found eighteen of our 
men were killed in the fight, and twenty-two wounded. These 
three captains, against whom we fought, were esteemed by the 
Spaniards the valiantest in all fhe South seas. Neither was 
their reputation undeserved, as may easily be inferred from the 
relation we have given of this bloody engagement. As the 
third ship was running away from the fight, she met with two 
more coming out to their assistance ; but withal, gave them so 
little encouragement, that they returned back, and dared not 
engage us. We began the fight about half an hour after sun- 
rise, and by noon had finished the battle, and quite overcome 
them. Captain Peralta, while he was our prisoner, would often 
break out into admirations of our valor, and say, surely " we 
Englishmen were the valiantest men in the whole world, who 
designed always to fight open, whilst all other nations invented 
all the ways imaginable to barricade themselves, and fight as 
close as they could." And yet, notwithstanding, we killed' 
more of our enemies than they of us. 

Two days after our engagement we buried Captain Peter 
Harris, a brave and stout soldier, and a valiant Englishman, 
bom in the county of Kent, whose death we very much la- 
mented. He died of the wounds he received in the battle ; 
and, besides him, only one man. All the rest of our wounded 



202 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

men recovered. Being now come before Panama, I inquired 
of Don Francisco de Peralta, our prisoner, many things con- 
cerning the state and condition of this city, and the neighbor- 
ing country ; and he satisfied me in manner following. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

Description of the State and Condition of Panama, and the Parts adjacent. — 
What Vessels they took while they blocked up the said Port. — Captain 
Coxon, with seventy more, returns Home. — Sawkins is chosen in Chief. 

The famous city of Panama is situate in the latitude of nine 
degrees north. It stands in a deep bay in the South Sea. It 
is round in form, excepting only that part where it runs along 
the sea-side. Formerly it stood four miles more easterly, when 
it was taken by Sir Henry Morgan. But being then burnt, 
and three times more since that accident, they removed it to 
the place where it now stands. Notwithstanding, there arc 
some poor people still inhabiting the old town ; and the cathe- 
dral church is still there, which makes a fair show at a distance, 
not unlike that of St. Paul's at London. This new city, of 
which I now speak, is much bigger than the old one was, and 
is built for the most part of brick, the rest being built of stone 
and tiled. As for the churches belonging thereto, they are not 
as yet finished. They are eight in number ; the chief whereof 
is called Santa Maria. This city is better than a mile and a 
half in length, and above a mile in breadth. The houses, for 
the most part, are three stories high. It hath two gates be- 
longing to it, and is well walled round, except only where a 
creek cometh into the city, which at high water letteth in barks, 
to furnish the inhabitants with all sorts of provisions and other 
necessaries. Here are always three hundred of the king's 
soldiers in garrison ; besides which number, their militia of 
all colors are eleven hundred. But, when we arrived there, 
most of their soldiers were out of town ; insomuch, that our 
coming put the rest into great consternation, they having had 
but one night's notice of our being in those seas. Hence 
we were induced to believe that had we gone ashore, in- 
stead of fighting their ships, we had certainly rendered our- 
selves masters of the place, especially considering that all their 
chief men were on board the admiral ; I mean such as were 
undoubtedly the best soldiers. Round about the city, for 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 203 

the space of seven leagues, or thereabouts, all the adjacent 
country is savanna, as they call it in the Spanish language, that 
is to say plain and level ground, as smooth as a sheet ; only 
here and there is to be seen a small spot of woody land. This 
level ground is full of vaccadas, or beef stations, where whole 
droves of cows and oxen are kept, which serve as so many 
look-outs, or watch-towers, to descry if an enemy is approach- 
ing by land. The ground whereon the city now stands is 
very damp and moist, which renders the place unheal thful. 
The water is also full of worms, which are very prejudicial to 
shipping ; and this is the cause that the king's ships lie always 
at Lima, the capital of Peru, unless when they come down to 
Panama to bring the king's plate ; which is only at such times 
as the fleet of galleons come from Old Spain to fetch and con- 
voy it thither. Here, in one hour after our arrival, we found 
worms of three quarters of an inch in length, both in our bed- 
clothes and other apparel. 

At the islands of Perico above mentioned, we seized in all five 
ships : of these, the first and biggest was named, as was said 
before, the Trinidad, and was a great ship, of the burden of 
four hundred tons : her lading consisting of wine, sugar, sweet- 
meats, (whereof the Spaniards in those hot countries make in- 
finite use,) skins, and soap. The second ship was of about 
three hundred tons burden, and not above half laden with bars 
of iron, which is one of the richest commodities that are brought 
into the South Sea. This vessel we burned with the lading 
in her, because the Spaniards pretended not to want that com- 
modity, and therefore would not redeem it.- The third was 
laden with sugar, being of the burden of one hundred and four- 
score tons, or thereabouts. This vessel was given to Captain 
Cook. The fourth was an old ship of sixty tons, laden with 
flour, or meal. This ship we likewise burnt with her lading, 
esteeming both bottom and cargo at that time to be useless to 
us. The fifth was a ship of fifty ton, which, with a periagua, 
Captain Coxon took along with him when he left us. 

Within two or three days after our arrival at Panama, Cap- 
tain Coxon being much dissatisfied with some reflections cast 
upon him by our company, determine^! to leave us, and return 
back to our ships in the Northern seas, by the same way he 
came ; and persuaded several of our company ,who sided most 
with him, and had had the chief hand in his election, to fall 
off from us, and bear him company in his journey, or march 
over land. The main cause of those reflections was his back- 
wardness in the last engagement with the armadilla ; concern- 
ing which point some stuck not to brand him for a coward. 



204 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

He drew off with him to the number of threescore and ten of 
our men, who all returned back with him in the ship and peri- 
agua, above mentioned, towards the mouth of the river of 
Santa Maria. In his company went also back the Indian king, 
Captain Antonio, and Don Andraeas, who, being old, desired to 
be excused from staying any longer with us. However, the 
king desired we would not be less vigorous in annoying their 
enemy and ours, the Spaniards, than if he were personally pres- 
ent with us. And to the intent we might see how faithfully 
he did intend to deal with us, he at the same time recommend- 
ed both his son and nephew to the care of Captain Sawkins, 
who was now our newly-chosen general, or commander-ill^ 
chief, in the absence of Captain Sharp. The two armadilla 
ships, which we took in the engagement, we burnt also, saving 
nothing of either of them but their rigging and sails. With 
them also we burnt a bark, that came into the port laden with 
fowls and poultry. 

On Sunday, April the 25th, Captain Sharp with his bark and 
company came in and joined us again. His absence was occa- 
sioned by want of water, which forced him to bear up to the 
king's islands. Being there, he found a new bark, which he 
presently took, and burnt his old one. This vessel sailed ex- 
cellently well. Within a day or two after the arrival of Cap- 
tain Sharp, came in likewise the people of Captain Harris. 
These had also taken another bark, and cut down the masts of 
their old one by the board, and thus, without masts or sails, 
turned away the prisoners they had taken in her. The next 
day we took another bark, that came from Nata, being laden 
with fowls as before this. In this bark we turned away all 
the meanest prisoners we had on board us. 

Having continued before Panama for the space of ten days, 
being employed in the affairs before mentioned, on May the 2d, 
we weighed from the Island of Perico, and stood off to another 
island, distant two leagues farther from thence, called Tavoga. 
On this island stands a town which bears the same name, and 
consists of a hundred houses, or thereabouts. The people of 
the town were all fled, seeing our vessels arrive. While we 
were here, some of our men being drunk, ashore, happened to 
set fire to one of the houses, the which consumed twelve houses 
more, before any could get ashore to quench it. To this island 
came several Spanish merchants, from Panama, and sold us 
what commodities we needed, buying also of us much of the 
goods w'e had taken in their own vessels : they gave us, like- 
wise, two hundred pieces of eight, for each negro we could 
spare them, of such as were our prisoners. From this island 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 205 

we could easily see all the vessels that went out or came into 
the port of Panama ; and here we took, likewise, several barks 
that were laden with fowls. 

Eight days after our arrival at Tavago, we took a ship that 
was coming from Truxillo, and bound for Panama. In this 
vessel we found two thousand jars of wine, fifty jars of gun- 
powder, and fifty-one thousand pieces of eight. This money 
had been sent from that city, to pay the soldiers belonging to 
the garrison of Panama. From the said prize we had informa- 
tion given us that there was another ship coming from Lima, 
with one hundred thousand pieces of eight more ; which ship 
was to sail ten or twelve days after them, and which they said 
could not be long before she arrived at Panama., Within two 
days after this intelligence, we took also another ship, laden 
with flour, from Truxillo, belonging to certain Indians, inhab- 
itants of the same place, or thereabouts. This prize confirmed 
what the first had told us of that rich ship, and said, as the 
others had done before, that she would be there in the space of 
eight or ten days. 

While we lay at Tavoga, the president, or governor of Pan- 
ama, sent a message by some merchants to us, to know what 
we came for into those parts. To this message Captain Saw- 
kins made answer, " That we came to assist the king of Darien, 
who was the true lord of Panama, and all the country there- 
abouts : and that since we were come so far, it was no reason 
bat that we should have some satisfaction. So that if he 
pleased to send us five hundred pieces of eight for each man, 
and one thousand for each commander, and not any further to 
annoy the Indians, but suffer them to use their own power and 
liberty, as became the true and natural lords of the country, 
that then we would desist from further hostilities, and go away 
peaceably ; otherwise that we should stay there, and get what 
we could, causing them what damage was possible. " By the 
merchants also that went and came to Panama, we understood 
there lived then, as bishop of Panama, one who had formerly 
been bishop of Santa Martha, and who was prisoner to Captain 
Sawkins, when he took the said place, about four or five years 
past. The captain having received this intelligence, sent two 
loaves of sugar to the bishop, as a present. The next day the 
merchant who carried them, returning to Tavoga, brought the 
captain a gold ring, for a retaliation of his said present. And 
withal, he brought a message to Captain Sawkins, from the 
president above mentioned, to know further of him, since we 
were Englishmen, "from whom we had our commission, and 
to whom he ought to complain for the damages we had already 
18 * 



206 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

done them." To this message, Captain Sawkins sent back for 
an answer, "That, as yet, all his company were not come to- 
gether ; but that, when they were come up, we would come 
and visit him at Panama, and bring our commissions on the 
muzzles of our guns, at which time he should read them, as 
plain as the flame of gunpowder could make them." 

At this Island of Tavoga, Captain Sawkins would fain have 
staid longer to wait for the rich ship above mentioned that was 
coming from Peru; but our men were so, importunate for fresh 
victuals, that no reason could rule them, nor their own interest 
persuade them to anything that might conduce to this purpose. 
Hereupon, May the 15th, we weighed anchor, and sailed from 
thence to the Island of Otoque. Being arrived there, we lay 
by it, while our boat went ashore, and fetched off fowls, hogs, 
and other things necessary for sustenance. Here I finished a 
draught, comprehending from Point Garachine to the Bay of 
Panama, &c. Of this, I may dare to affirm, that it is in gen- 
eral more correct and true than any the Spaniards have them- 
selves. For which cause I have here inserted it, for the satis- 
faction of those that are curious in such things. 

From Otoque we sailed to the Island of Cayboa, which is a 
place very famous for the fishery of pearl, thereabouts, and is 
at the distance of eight leagues from another place called Pue- 
bla Nueba, on the Main. In our way to this island we lost 
two of our barks, one whereof had fifteen men in her, and the 
other seven. Being arrived, we cast anchor at the said island. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Captain Sawkins, chief Commander of the Buccaneers, is killed before Puebla 
Neuba. — They are repulsed from the Place. — Captain Sharp chosen to be 
their Leader. — Many more of their Company leave them, and return Home, 
over Land. 

While we lay at anchor before Cayboa, our two chief com- 
manders, Captain Sawkins and Captain Sharp, taking with 
them threescore men, or thereabout, went in Captain Cook's 
ship to the mouth of the river, wheie Puebla Nueba is situated. 
The day of this action, as I find it quoted in my journal, was 
May 22, 16S0. When they came to the river's mouth, they 
put themselves into canoes, and were piloted up the river, to- 
wards the town, by a negro, who was one of our prisoners. I 



THK BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 207 

was chosen to be concerned in this action, but happened not to 
land, being commanded to remain in Captain Cook's ship, while 
they went up to assault the town. But here the inhabitants 
were too well provided for the reception of our party ; for, at 
the distance of a mile below the town, they had cut down 
great trees, and laid them across the river, with design to hin- 
der the coming up of any boats. In like manner, on shore, be- 
fore the town itself, they had raised three strong breastworks, 
and made other things for their defence. Here, therefore, Cap- 
tain Sawkins, running up to the breastworks, at the head of a. 
few men, was killed — a man who was as valiant and courage- 
ous as any could be, and likewise, next to Captain Sharp, the 
best beloved of all our company, or the most part thereof. 
Neither was this love undeserved by him ; for we ought justly 
to attribute to him the greatest honor we gained in our engage- 
ment before Panama, with the Spanish armadilla. Especially, 
considering that, as hath been said above, Captain Sharp was, 
by accident, absent at the time of that great and bloody fight. 

We that remained behind on board the ship of Captain Cook, 
carried her within the mouth of the River Puebla Nueba, and 
entered close by the east shore, which is crowned with a round 
hill. Within two stones cast of shore, we had four fathom 
water. Within the point opens a very fine and large river, 
which falls from a sandy bay, at a small distance from thence ; 
but as we were getting in, being strangers to the place, we un- 
wittingly ran our ship on ground, near a rock which lies on the 
westward shore, for the true channel of the said river is nearer 
to the east than west shore. With Captain Sawkins, in the 
unfortunate assault of this place, there died two men more, and 
three were wounded in the retreat, which they performed to the 
canoes in pretty good order. In their way down the river, Cap- 
tain Sharp- took a ship, whose lading consisted of indigo, otto, 
manteco, or butter and pitch ; and likewise burnt two vessels 
more, as being of no value. With this he returned on board 
our ships, being much troubled in his mind, and grieved for the 
loss of so bold and brave a partner in his adventures as Sawkins 
had constantly showed himself to be. His death was much 
lamented, and occasioned another party of our men to mutiny, 
and leave us, returning, over land, as Captain Coxon and his 
company had done before. 

Three days after the death of Captain Sawkins, Captain 
Sharp, who was now commander-in-chief, gave the ship which 
he had taken in the River of Puebla Nueba, and which was of 
the burthen of one hundred tons, or thereabouts, to Captain 
Cook, to command and sail in j ordering withal, that the old 



208 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

vessel which he had should go with those men that designed 
to leave us ; their mutiny, and our distraction, being now grown 
very high. Hereupon Captain Sharp corning on board La Trini- 
dad, the greatest of our ships, asked our men in full council, 
who of them were willing to go, or stay, and prosecute the 
design Captain Sawkins had undertaken, which was to remain 
in the South Sea, and there to make a complete voyage ; after 
which he intended to go home round about America, through 
the Straits of Magellan ; he added withal, that he did not as 
yet fear or doubt in the least but to make each man who should 
stay with him worth one thousand pounds, by the fruits he 
hoped to reap of that voyage. All those who had remained 
after the departure of Captain Coxon, for love of Captain Saw- 
kins, and only to be in his company, and under his conduct, 
thinking thereby to make their fortunes, would stay no longer, 
but pressed to depart. Among this number I acknowledge my- 
self to have been one, as being totally desirous in my mind to 
quit those hazardous adventures, and return homewards in com- 
pany of those who were now going to leave us. Yet being 
much afraid and averse to trust myself among wild Indians any 
farther, I chose rather to stay, though unwillingly, and venture 
on that long and dangerous voyage ; besides which danger of 
the Indians, I considered that the rains were now already up, 
and it would be hard passing so many gullies, which of neces- 
sity would then be full of water, and consequently create more 
than one single peril to the undertakers of that journey. Yet 
notwithstanding, sixty-three men of our company were resolved 
to encounter all these hardships, and to leave us ; hereupon they 
took their leave of us and returned homewards, taking with them 
the Indian king's son, and the rest of the Indians for their guides 
over land. They had, as was said above, the ship wherein 
Captain Cook sailed to carry them ; and out of our provision 
as much as would serve for treble their number. 

On the last day of May they left us employed in taking in 
water, and cutting down wood, at the Island of Cay boa before 
mentioned, where this mutiny happened. Here we caught very 
good tortoise, and red deer; we killed also alligators of a very 
large size, some of them being above twenty foot in length. 
But we could not find but that they were very fearful of a man, 
and would fly from us very hastily when we hunted them. 
This island lieth south-south-east from the mouth of the river 
above mentioned. On the south-east side of the island is a 
shoal, or spit of sand, which stretched itself the space of a quarter 
of a league into the sea; here, therefore, just within this shoal, 
we anchored in the depth of fourteen fathom water. The isl- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 209 

and on this side thereof maketh two great bays, in the first of 
which we watered, at a certain pond not distant above the cast 
of a stone up from the bay. In this pond, as I was washing 
myself, and standing under a manzanilla tree, a small shower 
of rain happened to fall on the tree, and from thence dropped 
on my skin : these drops caused me to break out all over my 
body into red spots, of which I was well for the space of a week 
after. Here I eat very large oysters, the biggest that ever I 
eat in my life, insomuch that I was forced to cut them into 
four pieces, each quarter of them being a good mouthful. 

Three days after the departure of the mutineers, Captain 
Sharp ordered us to burn the ship that I had hitherto sailed in, 
only out of design to make use of the iron-work belonging to 
the said vessel. Withal we put all the flour that was her lad- 
ing into the last prize taken in the River of Puebla Nueba, and 
Captain Cook, as was said before, was ordered to command her ; 
but the men belonging to his company would not sail any 
longer under his command. Hereupon he quitted his vessel, and 
came on board our admiral, the great ship above mentioned, 
called La Trinidad, determining to rule over such unruly com- 
pany no longer. In his place was put John Cox, an inhabitant 
of NeW England, who forced kindred, as was thought, on Cap- 
tain Sharp, out of old acquaintance, in this conjuncture of time, 
only to advance himself; thus he was made, as it were, vice- 
admiral to Captain Sharp. The next day three of our prison- 
ers, viz., an Indian, who was captain of a ship, and two mu- 
lattoes, ran away from us,* and made their escape. 

After this it was thought convenient to send Captain Eeralta 
prisoner in the admiral, on board Mr. Cox's ship ; this was done 
to the intent he might not hinder the endeavors of Captain 
Juan, who was commander of the money ship we took, men- 
tioned at the Island of Tavoga. For this man had promised to 
do great things for us, by piloting and conducting us to several 
places of great riches, but more especially to Guayaquil, where 
he said we might lay down our silver, and lade our vessel with 
gold. This design was undertaken by Captain Sawkins, and 
had not the headstrongness of his men brought him to the Isl- 
and of Cayboa, where he lost his life, he had certainly effected 
it before now. That night we had such thunder and light- 
nings, as I never heard before in all my life ; our prisoners told 
us, that in these parts it very often caused great damages, both 
by sea and land ; and my opinion gave me to believe, that our 
mainmast received some damage on this occasion. The rainy 
season being now entered, the wind for the most part was at N. 
W., though not without some calms. 
18* 



210 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

They depart from the Island of Cayboa to the Isle of Gorgona, where they career 
their Vessels. — Description of this Isle." — They resolve to go and plundci 
Arica, leaving their Design of Guayaquil. 

Having got in all things necessary for sailing, we were now 
in a readiness to depart on Sunday, June 6, 1680. That day 
we had some rain fell, which now was very frequent in all those 
places. About five o'clock in the evening we set sail for the 
Island of Cayboa, with a small breeze, the wind being at S. S. 
W. Our course was E. S. by E. and S. E. after sailing two 
days, with little or no wind. On the third, about sunrising, we 
descried Q-uicara, which at that time bore N. W. by W. from 
us, at the distance of five leagues, or thereabouts. 

These are two several islands, whereof the least is to the 
southward of the other. The land is a low table land; they 
are above three leagues in length. 

Thursday, June 10, we saw many tortoises floating upon the 
sea; hereupon we hoisted out our boat, and came to one of 
them, who offered not to stir until she was struck, and even 
then not to sink to the bottom, but rather to swim away : the 
sea hereabouts is very full of several sorts of fish, as dolphins, 
bonites, albicores, mullets, and old wives, &c, which came swim- 
ming about our ship in whole shoals. The next day, which was 
Friday, our Spanish prisoners informed us we must not expect 
any settled wind until we came within the latitude of three 
degrees; for all along the western shore of these seas there is 
little wind, which is the cause that those ships that go from 
Acapulco to the islands called De las Philippinas, do coast along 
the shore of California, until they get into the height of forty- 
five degrees ; yea, sometimes of fifty degrees latitude. As the 
wind varied, so we tacked several times, thereby to make the 
best of our way that was possible to the southward. 

As our prisoners had informed us, so we found it by experi- 
ence : for sailing two days with small wind, and much rain, 
June 17, about five in the morning we descried land, which 
appeared all along to be very low, and likewise full of creeks 
and bays. Our pilot not knowing what land it was, we called 
Mr. Cox on board us, who brought Captain Peralta with him : 
this gentleman being asked, presently told Us the land we saw 
was the land of Barbacoa, being almost a wild country all 
over ; withal, he informed us, that to the leeward of us, at the 
distance of ten leagues, or thereabouts, did lie an island called 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. ' 211 

by the name of Gorgona ; the which island, he said, the Span- 
iards did shun, and very seldom came near it, by reason of the 
incessant and continual rains there falling, scarce one day in 
the year being dry at that place. Captain Sharp having heard 
this information of Captain Peralta, judged the said island 
might be the fittest place for our company to careen at ; con- 
sidering, that if the Spaniards did not frequent it, we might in 
all probability lie there undescried, and our enemies, the Span- 
iards, in the mean time might think we were gone out of those 
seas. At this time it was that I seriously repented my staying 
in the South Seas, and that I did not return homewards in 
company of them that went before us : for I knew and could 
easily perceive that by these delays the Spaniards would gain 
time, and be able to send advice of our coming to every port 
all along the coast, so that we should be prevented in all, or 
most of our attempts and designs, wheresoever we came. But 
those of our company who had got money by the former prizes 
of this voyage, overswayed the others who had lost all their 
booty at gaming. Thus we' bore away for the Island aforesaid 
of Gorgona. 

On the main land, over against this Island of Gorgona, we 
were told by our prisoners, that up a great lake is an Indian 
town, where they have a large quantity of sand grains of gold : 
moreover, that five days' sail up a river belonging to the said 
lake dwell four Spanish superintendents, who have each of 
them the charge of overseeing fifty or sixty Indians, who are 
employed in gathering that gold which slippeth from the chief 
collectors, or* finders thereof: these are at least threescore and 
ten, or fourscore Spaniards, with a great number of slaves be- 
longing to them, who dwell higher up than these four superin- 
tendents, at the distance of twenty-five or thirty days' sailing 
on the said river. That once, every year, at a certain season, 
there comes a vessel from Lima, the capital city of Peru, to 
fetch the gold that is gathered here ; and withal, to bring these 
people such necessaries as they want. By land, it is full six 
weeks' travel from thence to Lima. The main land to wind- 
ward of this island is very low, and full of rivers : all along the 
coast it rains extremely : the island is distant from the continent 
only four leagues. 

Captain Sharp gave this island the name of Sharp's Isle, by 
reason we* - careened at this place. We anchored on the south 
side of it, at the mouth of a very fine river, which there dis- 
gorges itself into the sea. There belong to this island about 
thirty rivers and rivulets, all which fall from the rocks on the 
several sides of the island : the whole circumference thereof is 



212 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

about three leagues and a half, being all high and mountainous 
land, excepting only on that side where we cast anchor. Here, 
therefore, we moored our ship in the depth of eighteen or twenty 
fathom water, and began to unrig the vessel : but we were four 
or five days' space before we could get oi:r sails dry, so as to 
be able to take them from the yards, there falling a shower of 
rain almost every hour, day and night. The main land to the 
east of the island, and so stretching northwards, is extreme 
high and towering, and withal perpetually clouded, excepting 
only at the rising of the sun, when the tops of those hills arc 
clear. From the south side of this island where we anchored, 
we could see the low land of the main, at least a point thereof, 
which lieth nearest to the island : the appearance it maketh is, 
as if it were trees growing out of the water. 

Friday, July 2, as we were heaving down our ship, our 
mainmast happened to crack ; hereupon our carpenters were 
obliged to cut out large fishes and fish it, as they term it. 

The next day after the mischance of our mainmast, we killed 
a snake fourteen inches thick, and eleven feet long. About 
the distance of a league from this island runs a ledge of rocks, 
over which the water continually breaks ; the ledge being 
about two miles, or thereabouts, in length. Had we an- 
chored but half a mile more northerly, we had rid in much 
smoother water ; for here the wind came in upon us in violent 
gusts. While we were there, from June 13 to July 3, we had 
dry weather, which was esteemed as a rarity by the Spaniards, 
our prisoners. Every day we saw whales and grampuses, 
who would often come and dive under our ship :* we fired at 
them several times, but our bullets rebounded from their bod- 
ies. Our choice and best provisions here were Indian conies, 
monkeys, snakes, oysters, concks, periwinkles, with some other 
sorts of good fish, and a few small turtle. Here we also caught 
a sloth, a beast well deserving that name, given it by the 
Spaniards, by whom it is called pereza, from the Latin word 
pigrilia. 

At this island died Joseph Gabriel, a Spaniard, born in Chili, 
who was to have been our pilot to Panama ; he was the same 
man who had stolen and married the Indian king's daughter, 
as was mentioned above : he had all along been very true and 
faithful to us, in discovering several plots and conspiracies of 
our prisoners, either to get away or destroy us. His death 
was occasioned by a calenture, or malignant fever, which killed 
him after three days' sickness, having lain two days senseless. 
During the time of our stay at this island, we lengthened our 
top-sail yards, and got up top-gallant masts : we made two 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 213 

stay-sails, and refitted our ship very well ; but we wanted pro- 
visions extremely, as having nothing considerable of any sort, 
but flour and water. Being almost ready to depart, Captain 
Sharp, our commander, gave us to understand he had changed 
his resolution, concerning the design of going to Guayaquil, 
for he thought it would be in vain to go thither, considering, 
that in all this time we must of necessity have been descried ; 
yet, notwithstanding he himself, before, had persuaded us to 
stay. Being very doubtful among ourselves what course we 
should take, a certain old man, who had a long time sailed 
among the Spaniards, told us he could carry us to a place called 
Arica, to which town, he said, all the plate was brought down 
from Potosi, Chuquisaca, ,and several other places within the 
land, where it was digged out of the mountains and mines ; 
and that he doubted not but we might get there at least two 
thousand pound a man, by way of booty ; for all the plate of 
the South Sea lay there as it were in store, being deposited 
at the said place till such time as the ships fetched it away. 
Being moved with these reasons, and having deliberated there- 
upon, we resolved in the end to go to the said place. At 
this Island of Gorgona afore mentioned, we likewise took- 
down our round-house coach, and all the high carved work 
belonging to the stern of the ship : for when we took her 
from the Spaniards before Panama, she was as high as any 
third rate-ship in England. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

The Buccaneers depart from the Isle of Gorgona, with Design to plunder 
Arica. — They lose one another by the Way. — They touch at the Isle of Plate, 
or Drake's Isle, where they meet again. — Description of this Isle. — Some 
Memoirs of Sir Francis Drake. — They sail as far in a Fortnight as the 
Spaniards usually do in three Months. 

On Sunday, July 25, in the afternoon, all things being now 
in readiness for our departure, we set sail, and stood away from 
the Island of Gorgona, or Sharp's Isle, with a small breeze 
which served us at N. W., but as the sun went down, our 
breeze lessened by degrees into a perfect calm ; yet we could 
perceive that our ship began to sail much better since the 
taking down her round-house, and the other alterations which 
we made in her. 



214 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

The next day, about two o'clock in the morning, we had a 
land breeze to help us, which lasted for the space of six hours, 
and again in the evening we had another. This day the Span- 
iards, our prisoners, told us, in common discourse, that in most 
parts of this low land coast they find threescore fathom water. 
The third night, about ten o'clock, Captain Sharp ordered me 
to speak to Captain Cox to go about, and stand off from the 
shore, for he feared he would come too near it : but he replied, 
he knew well that he might stand in till two o'clock. The 
next morning, early, being cloudy and quite calm, we saw him 
not, and, notwithstanding at eight o'clock it cleared up, neither 
then could we get sight at him : from hence we concluded, 
and so it proved, that we had lost him in the dark, through his 
obstinacy in standing in too long, and not coming about when 
we spoke to him. Thus our admiral's ship was left alone, and 
we had not the company of Captain Cox again till we arrived 
at the Isle of Plate, where we had the good fortune to find him 
again, as shall be .mentioned hereafter. The weather being 
clear, this morning, we could see Gorgona, at the distance of at 
least fifteen or sixteen leagues to the east-north-east. 

Thursday, July 29, 1680, about four in the afternoon, we 
came within sight of the Island del Gallo, which T guessed to 
be nigh twenty-eight leagues distant from that of Gorgona, the 
place of our departure, S. W. 

The next day, being July 30, the wind blew very fresh 
and brisk, insomuch that we were in some fear for the heads 
of our low masts, as being very sensible that they were but 
weak. About three or four in the afternoon, we saw another 
island, six or seven leagues distant from Gallo, called Gorgo- 
nilla. All the main land hereabouts lieth very low and flat, and 
is in very many places overflown and drowned every high 
water. This day, and the night before it, we lost by our com- 
putation three leagues of our way, which I believe happened 
by reason we stood out too far from the land, as having stood 
off all night long. 

August the 1st, which was Sunday, we had a very fresh 
wind, at W. S. W., with several small showers of rain. Mean- 
while we got pretty well to windward, by making small trips 
to and fro ; which we performed, most commonly, by standing 
in three glasses, and as many out. 

The next day, August the 2d, in the morning, we came up 
to the high laud of San Iago, where beginneth the high land 
of this coast. We kept at the distance of ten leagues from it, 
making continual short trips, as was mentioned before. 

Wednesday, August the 4th, we continued still turning in 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 215 

the wind's eye, as we had done for two days before. In the 
afternoon we discovered three hills at E. N. E. of our ship, 
which make the land of San Matteo. That evening, also, we 
saw the Cape of San Francisco. • 

Thursday, August the 5th, we being then about the cape, it 
looked very like Beachy Head, in England : it is full of white 
cliffs on all sides. The land turneth off here to the eastward 
of the south, and maketh a large and deep bay, the circumfer- 
ence whereof is full of pleasant hills. In the bite of the bay 
are two high and rocky islands, which represent exactly two 
ships with their sails full. We were now come out of the 
rainy countries into a pleasant and fair region, where we had 
for the most part a clear sky and dry weather ; only now and 
then a small mist, which would soon vanish. Meanwhile a 
great dew used to fall every night, which supplied the defect 
of rain. 

On Sunday, August the 8th, we came close under a wild 
and mountainous country, and saw Cape Passao, at the distance 
of ten leagues, or thereabouts, to windward' of us. Ever since 
we came on this side Mangrove Point, we observed a windward 
current did fun along as we sailed. Under shore, and lower 
towards the pitch of the cape, the land is full of white cliffs 
and groves. 

The next day we had both a fair day and a fresh wind to 
help us on our voyage. We observed that Cape Passao maketh 
three points, between which are two bays ; the leeward most 
of the two is three leagues long, and the other four. Adjoin- 
ing to the bay is a pleasant valley. Our prisoners informed us, 
that northward of these capes live certain Indians who sell 
maize, and other provisions, to any ships that happen to come 
in there. The cape itself is a continued cliff, covered with 
severed sorts of shrubs and low bushes. Under these cliffs lies 
a sandy bay, forty feet deep. The Spaniards say that the wind 
is always here between the S. S. W. and W. S. W. ' 

Tuesday, August the 10th. This morning the sky was so 
thick and hazy, that we could not see the high land, though it 
were just before us; but as soon as it cleared up, we stood in 
towards the land, till we came within a mile of the shore. 

August the 11th, we found ourselves N. N. W. from Monte 
de Christo, being a very high and round hill. From thence to 
windward is seen a very pleasant country, with spots here and 
there of woody land, which causes the country all over to look 
like so many enclosures of ripe corn-fields. To leeward of the 
said hill,' the land is all high and hilly, with white cliffs at the 
sea-side. The coast runs S. W. till it reaches a point of land, 



216 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

within which is the port of Manta. This port is a settlement 
of the Spaniards and Indians together, where ships that want 
provisions put in, and are furnished with several necessaries. 
About six or seven leagues to windward of this port is Cape St. 
Lawrence, butting out into the sea. in form of the top of a 
church. As we sailed we saw multitudes of grampuses every 
day, as also water-snakes of divers colors. Both the Spaniards 
and Indians are very fearful of these snakes, as believing there 
is no cure for their bitings. 

This day, before night, we came within sight of Manta. 
Here we saw the houses of the town belonging to the port, 
which were not above twenty or thirty Indian houses, lying 
under the windward and the mount. We were not willing to 
be descried by the inhabitants of the place, and hereupon we 
stood off to sea again. 

On Thursday, August the 12th, in the morning, we saw the 
Island of Plate at S. W. at the distance of five leagues or there- 
abouts. It appeared to us to be a plain country. Having made 
this island, we resolved to go thither and refit our rigging, and 
get some goats which there run wild up and down the country. 
For, as was said before, at this time we had no other provision 
than flour and water. This day several great whales came up 
to us, and dived under our ship. One of these whales followed 
our ship, from two in the afternoon till dark night. 

The next morning very early, about six of the clock, we 
came under the aforesaid Isle of Plate ; and here unexpectedly, 
to our great joy, we found at anchor the ship of Captain Cox, 
with his whole company, whom he had lost at sea for the space 
of a whole fortnight before, who had arrived there four days 
before us, and were just ready to sail thence. About seven we 
came to an anchor, and then the other vessel sent us a live tor- 
toise and a goat to feast upon that day; telling us, withal, of 
great store of tortoises to be found ashore upon the bays, and 
of much fish to be caught hereabouts. The island is very steep 
on all sides ; insomuch that there is no landing, but only at the 
N. E. side thereof, where is a gully, near which we anchored 
in twelve fathom water. Here, at the distance of a furlong, or 
little more from the shore, is a cross still standing, erected at 
the first discovery of it by the Spaniards. No trees are to be 
found on the whole island, only low shrubs, on which the goats 
feed, which are here very numerous. The shore is bold and 
hard, neither is there any water to be found upon it, save only 
on the S. W. side, where it cannot be come at, being so envi- 
roned by the rocks, and too great a sea hindering the approach 
by boats. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA- 217 

This island received its name from Sir Francis Drake, 
and his famous actions. For it is reported that he here made 
the dividend of that vast quantity of plate, which he took in 
the armada of this sea, distributing it to each man of his com- 
pany by whole bowls full. The Spaniards affirm to this day, 
that he took at that time twelve score tons of plate, and sixteen 
bowls of coined money a man, his number being then forty- 
five men in all : insomuch that they were forced to heave much 
of it overboard, because his ship could not carry it all. Hence 
this island was called by the Spaniards the Isle of Plate, from 
this great dividend, and by us Drake's Isle. 
* All along as we sailed, we found the Spanish pilots to be very 
ignorant of the coasts; but they pleaded in excuse for their ig- 
norance, that the merchants either of Mexico, Lima, Panama, or 
other parts, who employ them, will not intrust one pennyworth 
of goods on that man's vessel that corks her, for fear she should 
miscarry. Here our prisoners told us likewise, that in the time 
of Oliver Cromwell, or the commonwealth of England, a certain 
ship was fitted out of Lima, with seventy brass guns, having 
on board her no less than thirty millions of dollars, or pieces of 
eight. All which vast sum of money was given by the mer- 
chants. of Lima, and sent as a present to our gracious king (or 
rather, his father) who now reigneth, to supply him in his exile 
and distress. But that this great and rich ship was lost by 
keeping along the shore in the bay of Manta above mentioned, 
or thereabouts. The truth whereof is much to be questioned. 

At this island we took out of Mr. Cox's ship the old Moor 
who pretended he would be our pilot to Arica. This was done 
lest we should have the misfortune of losing the company of 
Cox's vessel, as we had done before, our ship being the biggest in 
burden, and having the greatest number of men. Captain Pe- 
ralta oftentimes admired that we were gotten so far to the 
windward in so little space of time; whereas they had been, 
he said, many times three or four months in reaching to this 
distance from our departure : but their long and tedious voyages, 
he added, were occasioned by their keeping at too great a distance 
from the shore. Moreover, he told us, that had we gone to the 
islands of Galapagos, as we were once determined to do, we had 
met with many calms and currents, in which many ships have 
been lost, and never heard of more. This Island of Plate is 
about two leagues in length, and very full -of deep and danger- 
ous bays, as also such as we call gullies in these parts. 

We caught at this island, and salted good number, of goats 
and tortoises. One man standing here on a little bay, in one 
day turned" seventeen tortoises; besides which number, our 
19 



218 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

musquito strikers brought us in several more. Captain Sharp, 
our commander, showed himself very ingenious in striking them' 
he performing it as well as the tortoise strikers themselves. 
For these creatures have so little sense of fear, that they offer 
not to sink from the fishermen, but lie still till they are struck. 
But we found that the tortoises on this side were not so large 
nor so sweet to the taste as those on the north side of the isl- 
and. Of goats we have taken, killed, and salted above a hun- 
dred in a day, and that with eas£. While we staid here we 
made a square main-topsail yard. We cut also six foot of our 
boltsprit, and three foot more of our head. Most of the time 
we remained here we had hazy weather; only now and then" 
the sun would happen to break out, and then shine so hot. that 
it burnt the skin off the necks of several of our men. As for 
me, my lips were burnt so that they were not well in a whole 
week after. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

Captain Sharp and his Company depart from the Island of Plate, in Prosecution 
of their Voyage towards Arica. — They take two Spanish Vessels by the Way, 
and get Intelligence from the Enemy. — Eight of their Company destroyed at 
the Isle of Gallo. — Tediousness of this Voyage, and great Hardship they en- 
dured. 

Having taken in provisions and other necessaries we could 
get at the Isle of Plate, we set sail from thence, Tuesday the 
17th of August, 1680, in prosecution of our voyage and designs 
above mentioned, to take and plunder the vastly rich town of 
Arica. This day we sailed so well, as we did likewise several 
days after, that we were forced to lie by several times, besides 
pressing our topsails, to keep our other ship company, lest we 
should lose her again. 

Next morning, about break of day, we found ourselves at 
the distance of seven or eight leagues to the westward of the 
island, from whence we departed, standing W. by S., with a 
S. by W. wind. We were several times this day forced to stay 
for the other vessel belonging to our company. 

The day following we continued likewise a west course all 
the day long. Hereabouts we observed very great ripplings of 
the sea. 

August the 20th, we found still that we gained very much 
of the small ship, which did not a little both perplex and hinder 
us in our course. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 219 

The next day I finished two quadrants, each of which was 
two foot and a half radius. Here we had in like manner, as 
hath been mentioned on other days of our sailings, very many 
dolphins, and other softs of fish swimming about our ship. 

On the morning following we saw again the Island of Plate 
at N. E. 

The same day, at the distance of six leagues, or thereabouts, 
from' the said island, we saw another island called Solango. 
This isle lies close in by the main land. This day likewise 
we found that our lesser ship was still a great hinderauce to our 
sailing, as being forced to lie by, and stay for her two or three 
•hours every day. We found likewise, that the further from 
shore we were, the less wind we had all along : and that under 
the shore we were always sure of a fresh gale, though not so 
favorable as we could have wished. Hitherto we had used to 
stand off forty leagues, and yet notwithstanding, in the space 
of six days, we had not got above ten leagues on our voyage 
from the place of our departuae. 

August 23d. This day, at S. by W. and about six leagues 
distance from us, we descried a long and even hill. I took it 
to be an island, and conjectured it might be at least eight 
leagues distant from the continent. But afterwards we found 
it was a point of land adjoining to the main, and is called 
Point St. Helen, being continued by a piece of land which 
lieth low, and in several places is almost drowned from the 
sight, so that it cannot be seen two leagues' distance. In'this 
low land the Spaniards have convenience for making pitch, tar, 
salt, and some other things, for, which purpose they have sev- 
eral houses here, and a friar, who serveth them as their chap- 
lain. From Solango to this place, are reckoned eleven leagues, 
or thereabouts. The land is hereabouts indifferent high, and 
is likewise full of bays. We had this day very little wind to 
help us in our voyage, except now and then a blast. These 
sometimes would prove pretty fair to us, and allow us for some 
little while a south course. But our chiefest course was S. E. 
by S. 

Here we found no great current of the sea to move any way. 
At the Isle of Plate before described, the sea ebbs and flows 
nigh thirteen foot perpendicular. About four leagues to lee- 
ward of this Point St. Helen is a deep bay, having a key at 
the mouth of it, which takes up the better part of its wideness. 
In the deepest part of the bay on shore, we saw a great smoke, 
which was at a village belonging to the bay, to which place 
the people were removed from the point above mentioned. 
Hereabouts it is all along a very bold shore. At three of the 



220 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. . 

clock in the afternoon, we tacked about to clear ourselves of 
the point. Being now a little way without the point, we spied 
a sail, which we conceived to be a bark. Hereupon, we hoisted 
out our canoe, and sent it in pursuit of her, which made di- 
rectly for the shore. But the sail proved to be nothing but a 
pair of bark-logs, which arriving on shore, the men spread their 
sails on the sand of the bay to dry. At the same time there 
came down upon the shore an Indian on horseback, who hal- 
looed to our canoe which had followed the logs. But our men 
fearing to discover who we were, in case they went too near 
the shore, left the design, and returned back to us. In those 
parts the Indians have no canoes, nor any wood fit to make 
them of. Had we been descried by these poor people, they 
would in all probability have been very fearful of us : but they 
offered not to stir, which gave us to understand they knew us not. 
We could perceive from the ship a great path leading to the 
hills, so that we believed this place to be a lookout, or watch- 
place, for the security of Guayaquil. Between four and five 
we doubled the point, and then we descried the Point Chonday, 
at the distance of six leagues S. S. E. from this point. 

Tuesday, August 24, at noon, we took the other ship wherein 
Captain Cox sailed, into a tow, she being every day a greater 
hinderance than other to our voyage. Thus about three in the 
afternoon we lost sight of land, in standing over for Cape Blan- 
co : here we found a strong current move to the S. W., the 
wind was at S. W. by S., our course being S. by E. At the 
upper end of this gulf, which is framed by the two capes above 
mentioned, stands the city of Guayaquil, being a very rich 
place, and the embarcadero, or sea-port, to the great city of 
Quito. To this place, likewise, many of the merchants of Li- 
ma usually send the money they design for Old Spain, in barks, 
and by that means save the custom, that otherwise they should 
pay to the king, by carrying it on board the fleet. Hither 
comes much gold from Quito ; and very good and strong broad- 
cloth, together with images for the use of churches, and several 
other things of considerable value ; but more especially cocoa- 
nut, whereof chocolate is made, which is supposed here to be 
the best in the whole universe. The town of Guayaquil con- 
sists of about one hundred and fifty great houses, and twice as 
many little ones : this was the town to which Captain Sawkins 
intended to make his voyage, as was mentioned above. When 
ships of greater burthen come into this gulf, they anchor with- 
out Lapina, and then put their lading into lesser vessels to carry 
it to town. Towards the evening of this day, a small breeze 
sprung up, varying from point to point ; after which, about 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 221 

nine o'clock at night, we tacked about, and stood off at sea, 
W. by N. 

As soon as we had tacked, we happened to spy a sail, N. N. 
E. from us ; hereupon, we instantly cast off our vessel, which 
we had in a tow, and stood round about after them. We came 
very near the vessel before they saw us, by reason of the dark- 
ness of the night ; as soon as they espied us they immediately 
clapped on a wind, and sailed very well before us ; insomuch, that 
it was a pretty while before we could come up with them, and 
within call. We hailed them in Spanish, by means of an In- 
dian prisoner, and commanded them to lower their topsails. 
They answered, they would soon make us to lower our own. 
Hereupon, we fired several guns at them, and they as thick at 
us again with their harquebusses : thus they fought for the space 
of half an hour, or more, and would have done it longer, had 
we not killed the man at the helm ; after whom, none of the 
rest dared to be so hardy as to take his place. With another 
of our shot we cut in pieces and disabled their main-top-hal- 
liards ; hereupon they cried out for quarter, which we gave 
them, and entered their ship. Being possessed of the vessel, 
we found in her five and thirty men, of which number twen- 
ty-four were natives of Old Spain : they had one and thirty 
fire arms on board the ship for their defence. They had not 
fought us, as they declared afterwards, but only out of a brava- 
do, having promised on shore so to do, in case they met us at 
sea. The captain of this vessel was a person of quality, and 
his brother, since the death of Don Jacinto de Barahona, killed 
in the engagement before Panama, was now made admiral of 
the sea armada : with him we took also, in this bark, five or 
six other persons of quality. They did us in this fight, though 
short, very great damage in our rigging, by cutting it in pieces. 
Besides which, they wounded two of our men : and a third 
man was wounded by the negligence of one of our own men; 
occasioned by a pistol, which went off unadvisedly. About 
eleven o'clock this night, we stood off to the west. 

The next morning, about break of day, we hoisted out our 
canoe, and went aboard the bark which we had taken the 
night before. We put on board our own ship more of the pris- 
oners taken in the said vessel, and began to examine them, to 
get what intelligence we could from them. The captain of 
the vessel, who* was a very civil and. meek gentleman, satisfied 
our desires in this point very exactly, saying, " Gentlemen, I 
am now your prisoner of war by the overruling providence of 
fortune ; and moreover, am very well satisfied that no money 
'whatsoever can procure my ransom, at least for the present, at 
19* 



222 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

your hands : hence I am persuaded, it is not my interest to tell 
you a lie ; which if I do. I desire you to punish me as severely 
as you shall think fit. We heard of your taking and destroy- 
ing our armadillo,, and other ships at Panama, about six weeks 
after that engagement, by two several barks which arrived here 
from thence ; but they could not inform us whether you de- 
signed to come any further to the southward ; but rather, de- 
sired we wohld send them speedily all the help by sea that we 
could. Hereupon, we sent the noise and rumor of your being 
in these seas to Lima, desiring they would expedite what suc- 
cors they could send to join with ours. We had, at that time, 
in our harbor, two or three great ships, but all of them very 
unfit to sail ; for this reason, at Lima, the viceroy of Peru 
pressed three great merchant ships, into the biggest of which 
he put fourteen brass guns ; into the second, ten ; and in the 
other, six ; unto these he added two barks, and put seven hun- 
dred and fifty soldiers on board them all ; of this number of 4 
men, they landed eightscore at Point St. Helen ; all the rest 
being'carried down to Panama, with design to fight you there; 
besides these forces, two other men-of-war, bigger than the 
afore mentioned, are still lying at Lima, and fitting out there 
with all speed to follow and pursue you. One of these men- 
of-war is equipped with thirty-six brass guns, and the other 
with thirty : these ships, besides their complement of seamen, 
have four hundred soldiers added to them by the viceroy. 
Another man-of-war belonging to this number, and lesser than 
the afore mentioned, is called the Patache ; this ship carries 
twenty-four guns, and was sent to Aricato fetch the king's 
plate from thence ; but the viceroy having received intelli- 
gence of your exploits at Panama, sent for this ship back from 
thence in such haste, that they came away and left the money 
behind them. Hence the Patache now lies at the port of Cal- 
lao, ready to sail on the first occasion, or news of your arrival 
thereabouts ; they having for this purpose sent to all parts 
very strict orders to keep a good look out on all sides, and all 
places along the coast ; since this, from Manta they sent us 
word that they had seen two ships at sea pass by that place : 
and from the Goat Key also we heard, that the Indians had 
seen you, and that they were assured, that one of your vessels 
was the ship called La Trinidad, which you had taken before 
Panama, as being a ship very well known in these seas : from 
hence we concluded that your design was to ply and make your 
voyage thereabouts. Now this bark wherein you took us pris- 
oners, being bound for Panama, the governor of Guayaquil sent 
us out before her departure, if possible, to discover you ; which 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 223 

if we did, we were to run the bark on shore, and get away, or 
slse to fight you with these soldiers and fire-arms, that yon 
see. As soon as we heard of your being in these seas, we built 
two forts, the one of six guns, and the other of four, for the 
defence of the town : at the last muster taken in the town of 
Guayaquil, we had there eight hunred and fifty men, of all col- 
ors ; but when we came out, we left only two hundred and 
fifty men that were actually under arms." Thus ended the 
relation of that worthy gentleman. About noon that day we 
unrigged the bark, which we had taken, and then sunk her. 
Then we stood S. S. E., and afterwards S. by W.and S. S. W. 
That evening we saw Point St. Helen at the north half east, 
at the distance of nine leagues, or thereabouts. 

The next day, being August 26, in the morning we stood 
south. The next day we reckoned up all our pillage, and found 
it amounted to three thousand two hundred and seventy-six 
pieces of eight, which was accordingly divided into shares 
amongst us. We also punished a friar, who was chaplain to 
the bark afore mentioned, and shot him upon the deck, casting 
him overboard before he was dead. Such cruelties, though I 
abhorred very much in my heart, yet here was I forced to hold 
my tongue and not contradict them, as having no authority to 
oversway them. About ten o'clock this morning we saw land 
again, and the pilot said we were sixteen leagues to leeward of 
Cabo Blanco : hereupon we stood off and in, close under the 
shore, which appeared to be all barren land. 

The morning following we had very little wind, so that we 
advanced but slowly all that day : to windward of us we could 
perceive the continent to be all high land, being whitish clay 
full of white cliffs. This morning, in common discourse, our 
prisoners acknowledged they had destroyed one of our little 
barks, which we lost in our way to the Island of Cavboa. 
They stood away, as it appeared by their information, for the 
Goat Key, thinking to find us there, as having heard Captain 
Sawkins say that he would go thither. On their way they 
happened to fall in with the Island of Gallo, and understanding 
its weakness by their Indian pilot, they ventured on shore, and 
look the place, carrying'away three white women in their com- 
pany. But after a small time of cruising, they returned again 
to the afore-mentioned island, where they staid the space of 
two or three days ; after which they went to sea again. Within 
three or four days they came to a little key four leagues distant 
from this isle. But while they had been out and in thus, sev- 
eral times, one of their prisoners made his escape to the main, 
and brought off from thence fifty men with fire-arms. These 



224 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. > 225 

placing themselves in ambuscade, at the first volley of their 
shot, killed six of the seven men that belonged to the bark. 
The other man that was left took quarter of the enemy ; and 
he it was that discovered our design upon the town of Guay- 
aquil. By an observation which was made this day, we found 
ourselves to be in the latitude of 3° 50' S. At this time, our 
prisoners told us, there was an embargo laid on all the Span- 
ish ships, commanding them not to stir out of the ports, for 
fear of falling into our hands. 

Saturday, August 28. This morning we took out all the 
water, and most part of the flour, that was in Captain Cox's 
vessel : having done this, we made a hole in the vessel, and left 
her to sink, with a small old canoe at her stern. To leeward 
of Manta, a league from shore, in eighteen fathom water, there 
runs a great current outwards. About eleven in the forenoon, 
we weighed anchor, with wind at W. N. W., turning it oub. 
Our number was now one hundred and forty men, boys, and 
fifty-five prisoners, all now in one and the same bottom. This 
day we got six or seven leagues in the wind's eye. 

All the day following we had a very strong S. S. W. wind ; 
insomuch that, we were forced to sail with two reefs in our 
main -topsail, and one also in our fore-topsail. Here Captain 
Peralta told us, that the first place which the Spaniards settled in 
these parts, after Panama, was Tumbes, now to leeward of us. 
That there a priest went ashore with a cross in his hand, while 
ten thousand Indians gazed at him. Being landed, there came 
two lions out of the woods, and after them two tigers, on the 
backs of whom the priest having gently laid the cross, they 
fell down and worshipped it ; which gave such a testimony 
to 'the truth of the Christian religion, that the Indians soon 
embraced the same. About four in the Evening we came 
abreast the cape, (Cape Blanco,) which is the highest part of 
all. The land thereabouts appeareth to be barren and rocky. 

Were it not for a windward current which runs under the 
shore hereabouts, it were totally impossible for any ships to get 
about this cape, there being such a great current to the leeward 
in the offing. In the last bark which we took, of which we 
spoke in this chapter, we made prisoner one Nicholas Moreno, 
a Spaniard by birth, and who was esteemed to be a very good 
pilot of the South Sea. He was continually praising the sail- 
ing of our ship, which he said was especially occasioned by 
the alterations we made in her. As we went along, we ob- 
served many bays between this cape and Point Parina, of 
which we shall make mention hereafter. 

In the night the wind came about to S. S. E., and we had a 



226 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

very stiff gale ; so that, by break of day, we found ourselves 
about five leagues to windward of the cape afore mentioned. 

The next day likewise, being the last of August, the wind 
still continued S. S. E., as it had done the whole day before. 
This day we thought it convenient to stand further out to sea, 
for fear of being descried at Paita, which now was not very far 
distant from us. The morning proved hazy ; but about eleven 
we spied a sail, which stood then just as we did, E. by S. 
Coming nearer by degrees, we found her to be nothing but a 
pair of bark-logs under sail. Our pilot advised us not to med- 
dle with, or take any notice of them, for it was very doubtful 
whether we should be able to come up with them or not ; and 
then, by giving chase to them, we should easily be descried and 
known to be English pirates, as they called us. These bark- 
logs sail excellently well for the most part, and some of them 
are so big as to carry two hundred and fifty packs of meal from 
the valleys to Panama, without wetting any of it. This day, 
by an observation made, we found ourselves in 4° 55' latitude 
South : we saw Point Parinaat N. E. by E., and at the distance 
of six leagues, or thereabouts. 

At the same time La Sillade Paita bore from us S. E. by E., 
being distant only seven or eight leagues. 

The town of Paita is situated in a deep bay about two 
leagues to the leeward of this hill. It serves for an embarca- 
dero, or port town, to another great place which is distant from 
thence about thirteen leagues higher in the country, and is 
called Piura, seated in a very barren country. 

On Wednesday, the first of September, our course was S. by 
W. The midnight before there sprung up a land wind. 

That night as we sailed we saw something that appeared to 
us like a light ; and the next morning we spied a sail, from 
whence we judged the light had come. The vessel was six 
leagues from us, in the wind's eye, and thereupon we gave her 
chase. She stood to windward, as we did. This day we had 
an observation, which gave us latitude 5° 30' S. At night we 
were about four leagues to leeward of her ; but so great a mist 
fell, that we suddenly lost sight of her. At this time the 
weather was as cold with us as in England in November. Every 
time we went about with our ship, the other did the like. Our 
pilot told us, that this ship set forth from Guayaquil eleven 
days before they were taken ; and that she was laden with 
rigging, wollen, and cotton cloth, and other manufactures made 
at Q,uito. Moreover, that he had heard that they had spent a 
mast, and had put into Paita to refit it. 

The night following, they showed us several lights through 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 227 

their negligence, which they ought not to have done, for by 
that means we steered directly after them. The next morning 
she was above three leagues in the wind's eye from us. Had 
they suspected us, it could not be doubted, but they would have 
made towards the laud ; but they seemed not to fly nor stir for 
our chase. The land here all along is level, and not very high. 
The weather was hazy, so that about eleven that morning we 
lost sight of her. At this time we had been, a whole weeK at 
an allowance of only two draughts of water a day, so scarce 
were provisions with us. That afternoon we saw the vessel 
again, and at night we were not full two leagues from her, and 
not above half a league to the leeward. We made short trips 
all that night. 

On Saturday, September the 4th, about break of day. we 
saw the ship again at the distance of a league, or thereabouts, 
and not above a mile to windward of us. They stood out as 
soon as they espied us, and we stood directly after them. Hav- 
ing pursued them for several hours, about four in the afternoon 
we came up within half shot of our small arms, to windward 
of them. Hereupon they, perceiving who we were, presently 
lowered all their sails at once, and we cast dice among our- 
selves for the first entrance. The lot fell to larboard, so that 
twenty men belonging to that watch entered her. In the ves- 
sel were found fifty packs of cocoa-nut, such as chocolate is 
made of, many packs of raw silk, Indian cloth, and thread 
stockings ; these' things being the principal part of her cargo. 
We stood- out S. W. by S. all the night following. 

Next day we put on board our ship the chief part of her lad- 
ing. In her hold we found some rigging, as Nicholas Moreno, 
our pilot, taken in the former vessel of Guayaquil, told us ; but 
the greatest part of it was full of timber. We took out of her 
also some osenbriggs, of which we made top-gallant sails, as 
shall be said hereafter. It was now nineteen days, as they told 
us, since they had set sail from Guayaquil ; and then they had 
only heard there of our exploits before Panama, but did not so 
much as think of our coming so far to the southward, which 
did not give them the least suspicion of us, though they had 
seen us for the space of two or three days before at sea, and 
always steering after them ; otherwise they had made for the 
land, and endeavored to escape our hands. 

Next morning, likewise, we continued to take in the re- 
maining part of what goods we desired out of our prize. When 
we had done, we sent most of our prisoners on board the said 
vessel, and left only their foremast standing, all the rest being 
sut down by the board. We gave them a foresail to sail with- 



228 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

al, all their own water, and some of our flour to serve them for 
provision ; and thus we turned them away, as not caring to he 
troubled or encumbered with their company. Notwithstanding 
we detained still several of the chief of our prisoners. Such 
were Don Thomas de Argandona, who was commander of the 
vessel taken before Guayaquil; Don Christoval and Don Bal- 
tazar, both gentlemen of quality taken with him; Captain Pe- 
ralta, Captain Juan Moreno, the pilot, and twelve slaves, of 
whom we intended to make good use, to do the drudgery of 
our ship. At this time I reckoned we were about the distance 
of thirty-five leagues, or thereabouts, from land. By an ob- 
servation made this day, we found latitude 7° V S. Our plun- 
der being over, and our prize turned away, we sold both chests, 
boxes, and several other things at the mast, by the voice of 
a crier. 

The day following we stood S. S. W. and S. W. by S. all 
day long. This day one of our company died, named Robert 
Montgomery, being the same man that was shot by the negli- 
gence of one or two of our men with a pistol through the leg, 
at the taking of the vessel before Guayaquil, as was mentioned 
above. We had an observation also this day, by which we 
now found latitude 7° 26' S. On the same day, likewise, we 
made a dividend, and shared all the booty taken in the last 
prize. This being done, we hoisted into our ship the launch 
which we had taken in her, as being useful to us. For several 
days past it was observed that we had every morning a dark 
cloud in the sky, which in the North Sea would certainly fore- 
tell a storm ; but here it always blew over. 

Wednesday, September 8th, in the morning, we drew our 
dead man above mentioned into the sea, and gave him three 
French volleys for his funeral ceremony. The night before we 
saw a light belonging to some vessel at sea. But we stood 
away from it, as not desiring to see any more sails to hinder us 
in our voyage towards Arica, whither now we were designed. 
This light was undoubtedly from some ship to leeward of us ; 
but next morning we saw it not. Here I judged we had made 
a S. W. by S. way from Paita, and by an observation found 
8° 0' S. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 229 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

A Continuation of their long and tedious Voyage to Arica, -with a Description 
of the Sailings thereunto. — Great Hardship for want of Water and other 
Provisions. — They are descried at Arica, and dare not land, the Country 
being all in Arms before them. — They retire from thence, and go to Puerto 
de iiilo, close by Arica. — Here they land, take the ' Town with little or no 
Loss on their Side, refresh themselves with Provisions ; but in the End are 
cheated by the Spaniards, and forced shamefully to retreat from thence. 

September 9th, we continued still to make a S". W. by S. 
way, as we had done the day before. By a clear and exact 
observation taken the same day, we found now latitude 8° 12' 
S. All the twenty-four hours last past afforded us but little 
on our voyage, and we were forced to tack about four or five 
hours. 

Next day, by another observation taken, we found then lati- 
tude 9° 0'. Now the weather was much warmer than before ; 
and with this warmth we had small and misty rains that fre- 
quently fell. • That evening a strong breeze came up at south- 
east by east. 

The night following, likewise, there fell a very great dew, 
and a fresh wind continued to blow. At this time we were 
all hard at work to make small sails of the ozenbrigs we had 
taken in the last prize, as being much more convenient for its 
lightness. The next morning, being Saturday, September 
11th, we lay by to mend our rigging. • These last twenty-four 
hours we had made a S. W. by W. way. And now we had 
an observation that gave us latitude 10° 9' S. I supposed this 
day that we were west from Cosmey about the distance of 
eighty-nine leagues and a half. 

September 12th. This day we reckoned a S. S. W. way, 
and that we had made thirty-four leagues and three quarters or 
thereabouts. Also that all our westing from Paita was eighty- 
four leagues. We supposed ourselves now to be in latitude 
11° 40' S. But the weather being hazy, no observation could 
be made. 

September 13th. Yesterday, in the afternoon, we had a 
great eclipse of the sun, which lasted from one of the clock 
till three after dinner. From this eclipse I then took the true 
judgment of our longitude from the Canary Islands, and found 
myself to be 285° 35' ; latitude 11° 45' S. The wind was 
now so fresh that we took in our topsails, making a great way 
under our courses and spritsail. 

September 14th, we had a cloudv morning, which continued 
20 



230 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

so all the first part thereof. About eight it cleared up, and 
then we set our fore-topsail ; and, about noon, our main-topsail 
likewise. This was observable, that all this great wind prece- 
dent did not make any thing of a great sea. We reckoned this 
day that we had run by a S. W. by W. way twenty-six leagues 
and two thirds. 

The next day we had close weather, as we had the morning 
before. Our reckoning was twenty-four leagues and two 
thirds by a S. W. by W. way. But by observation made, I 
found myself to be 23° south of my reckoning, as being in the 
latitude of 15° 17' S. 

On the 16th, we had but small and variable winds. For 
the twenty-four hours last past we reckoned twenty-four 
leagues and two thirds by a S. W. by S. way. By observation 
we had latitude 16° 41'. That evening we had a gale at E. S. 
E., which forced us to hand our topsails. 

The 17th, likewise, Ave had many gusts of wind at several 
times, forcing us to hand our topsails often. But in the fore- 
noon we set them, with a fresh gale at E. S. E. My reckon- 
ing this da}>- was thirty-one leagues by a S. S. W. way. All 
day long we stood by our topsails. 

The 18th, we made a S. by W. way. We reckoned our- 
selves to be in latitude 19° 32' S. The weather was hazy, and 
the wind began to cease by degrees. 

Next day, being the 19th, we had a very small wind. I 
reckoned thirteen leagues and a half by a S. W. by S. way ; 
and our whole westing from Paita to be one hundred and sixty- 
four leagues in latitude 20" 6' S. All the afternoon we had a 
calm, with drizzling rain. 

Monday, September 20th. Last night we saw the Magellan 
clouds, so famous among mariners in the South seas. The 
least of these clouds was about the bigness of a man's hat. 
After this sight, the morning was very clear. We had run at 
noon at E. S. E. thirteen leagues and a half. And, by an ob- 
servation then made, we found latitude 20° 15' S. This day 
the wind began to freshen at W. by S., yet we had .a very 
smooth sea. 

Next morning the wind came about to S. W., yet slackened 
by degrees. At four this morning it came to S. by E., and at 
ten the same day to S. E. by S. We had this day a clear ob- 
servation, and by it latitude 20° 25' S. We stood now E. by 
N., with the wind at S. E. 

September 22d. This morning the wind was at E. S. E. 
By a clear observation we found latitude 19° 30' S.. likewise 
on a N. E. by E. way, and two leagues and two thirds. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 231 

September 23d, we had a fresh wind, and a high sea. This 
morning early, the wind was at E., and about ten at E. N. E. 
From a clear observation we found our latitude to be 20° 25' S. 
The way we made was S. by W. That morning we happened 
to split our spritsail. 

Next morning the wind was variable and inconstant, and the 
weather but hazy. We reckoned a S. by E. way. This day 
we bent a new main-topsail, the old one serving for a fore-top- 
sail. In the afternoon we had but little wind, whereupon we 
lowered our main-topsails, being a very smooth sea. 

The following day being likewise calm and warm, we setup 
our shrouds both fore and aft. An observation taken this day 
afforded us latitude 21° 57'. That evening we bent a sprit- 
sail. 

September 26th. An observation gave us latitude 22° 5' S. At 
noon we had a breeze at N. N. E., our course being E. S. E. 
In the afternoon we set up a larboard topsail studden-sail. In 
the evening the wind came about at north pretty fresh. 

Next day we had a smooth sea, and took in four studden- 
sails. For the day before, in the afternoon, we had put out, 
besides that above mentioned, another studden-sail, and two 
main studden-sails more. This day we had by observation 22° 
45' S, having made, by an E. S. E. way, thirty-five leagues and 
a half. Our whole meridian difference was sixty-eight leagues 
and a half. 

September 28th, all the forenoon we had very little wind, 
and yet withal a great southern sea. By observation we had 
latitude 22° 40' S. 

September 29th. All the night past we had much wind, with 
three or four smart showers of rain. This was the first that 
we could call rain, ever since we left Cape Francisco above 
mentioned. This day our allowance was shortened, and re- 
duced to three pints and a half of water for a day, and one cake 
of boiled bread to each man for a day. An observation this 
day gave us latitude 21° 59' S. by a N. E. by E. way. 

September 30th. We had a cloudy day, and the wind very 
variable, the morning being fresh. Our way was N. E. half 
N., wherein we made eighteen leagues. 

October 1st. All the night past and this day, we had a cloudy 
sky, and not much wind. We made a N. E. by E. way, and 
by it seventeen leagues and two miles. This day we began 
at two pints and a half of water for a day. 

October 2d. We made an E. N. E. way, and by it twenty-six 
leagues or thereabouts. Our observation this day gave us lati- 
tude 20° 29' S. I reckoned now that we were ten leagues and a 



232 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

half to east of our meridian, the port of Paita ; so that hence- 
forward our departure was eastward. The wind was this day 
at S. E. by S. 

October 3d, we had both a cloudy morning, a high sea, and 
drizzling weather. An observation which we had this day, 
gave us latitude 19° 45' S. In the afternoon the wind blew so 
fresh, that we were forced to hand our topsails and spritsails. 

October 4th, likewise, we had a high sea, and cold wind. 
At break of day, we set our topsails. An observation made, 
afforded us latitude 19° 45' S. Here we supposed ourselves fif- 
ty-nine leagues D. M. 

October 5th, we had still a great sea, and sharp and cold 
winds, forcing us to our low sails. By a N. E. by E. way, we 
reckoned this day twenty six leagues and a half. 

But on the. 6th, we had great gusts of wind; insomuch that 
this morning our ring-bolts gave way, which held our main 
stay, and had like to have brought our mainmast by the board. 
Hereupon we ran three or four glasses west before the wind. 
By an observation we found latitude 19° 4' S. 

October 7th, the wind was something fallen. We had both 
a cloudy day and variable winds. 

The. St li of the said month we had again a smooth sea, and 
small whiffling winds. This morning we saw a huge shoal of 
fish, two or three water-snakes, and several seals. 

Next day we had likewise a very smooth sea, and a cloudy 
day. Our course was east. 

October 10th, we had also a cloudy day, with small and vari- 
able winds, and, as a consequent thereof, a smooth sea. Our 
way was S. by E. This day we spied floating upon the sea 
several tufts of sea-grass, which gave us good hopes that we 
were not far from shore. In the afternoon we had a S. E. by 
E. wind that sprang up: the night was very cold and cloudy; 

October 11th, we had a fresh wind at S. E. and E. S. E., 
together with a cloudy day, such as we had experimented for 
several days before. We reckoned this day thirty-two leagues, 
by a N. E. by E. way. Our pilot told us, the sky is always 
hazy near the shore on these coasts. 

October 12th, we had a clear day, and a north-east way. 

October 13th, we had but little wind. This day we saw a 
whale, which we took for an infallible token that we were not 
far distant from land, which now we hoped to see in a few 
days. We made an E. S. E. way, and by it we reckoned nine- 
teen leagues. All the evening Was very calm. 

Thursday, October 14th, we had both a calm and close day 
till afternoon ; then the weather became very hot and clear. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 233 

This day we saw several land-fowls, being but small birds ; 
concerning which our pilot said, tfyat they used to appear about 
one or two days' sail from the land. Our reckoning was eleven 
leagues by an E. S. E. way. In the evening we thought we 
had seen land, but it proved to be nothing but a foggy bank. 

October 15th. Both the night past, and this day, was very 
clear. We made an observation this day, which gave us lati- 
tude 18° 0' south. 

October 16th. Last night and this day were contrary to the 
former, both cloudy. Our way was N. E. by E. ; whereof we 
^reckoned thirteen leagues. 

Sunday, October 17th, the wind blew very fresh, our course 
being E. N. E. About five that morning we saw land; but the 
weather was so hazy, that at first we could scarce perceive 
whether it was land or not. It was distant from us eight 
leagues, and appeared as a high and round hill, being in form 
like a sugar-loaf. We saw land afterwards all along to the S. 
E. by E. from it. In the evening, we being then within five 
leagues of the shore, the land appeared very high and steep. 

October 18th. All the night last past we stood off to sea with 
a fresh wind. This morning we could just see land at N. N. E. 
We reckoned a S. E. by E. way; and by observation we found 
latitude 17° 17' south. 

Tuesday, October 19th, we had very cloudy weather, finding 
what our pilot had told us to be very true, concerning the hazi- 
ness of this shore. We saw all along as we went very high 
land, covered with clouds, insomuch that,we could not see its top. 

Wednesday, October 20th, we had likewise cloudy weather, 
and for the most part calm, which continued so the next day. 

Friday, October 22d. This morning we saw land before us. 
Our pilot being asked what land that was, answered, it was the 
Point of Hilo. 

There is every morning and evening a brightness over the 
point, which lasts for two or three hours, being caused by the 
reflection of the sun on the barren land, as is supposed. This 
day we had but little wind, and the great want of water we 
were now under occasioned much disturbance among our men. 
As for my part, I must acknowledge, I could not sleep all night 
long through the greatness of my drought. We could willingly 
have landed here to seek for water, but the fear of being dis- 
covered, and making ourselves known, hindered us from so do- 
ing. Thus we unanimously resolved to endure our thirst a lit- 
tle longer. Hereabouts is a small current that runs under the 
shore. This morning we had but little wind at south, our 
course being E. S. E. 
20* 



234 THE BUCCANEEIIS OF AMERICA. 

Oar wind continued to blow not above six hours each day. 
We reckoned the difference pf our meridian to be this day one 
hundred and eighty leagues. We were now hard put to it for 
want of water, having but half a pint a day to our allowance. 

October 23d. This day we were forced to spare one measure 
of water, thereby to make it hold out the longer ; so scarce it 
became with us. 

About nine o'clock at night we had a land wind, and with it 
we stood S. E. by S. But all the night after we had but 
little wind. 

October 24th. All the night past we had very cloudy and, 
dark weather, with mizzling rain. The morning being come, 
cleared up; but all the land appeared covered with clouds. 

This day we resolved 112 men should go ashore. And about 
eight this evening we sent our launch and four canoes, with 
89 men, to take three or four fishermen at a certain river, close 
by Mora de Sama, called El Rio de Juan Diaz, with intent to 
gain what intelligence we could, how affairs stood at present 
on the coast and country thereabouts. 

Monday, October 25th. Last night being about the distance 
of one league and a half from the shore, we sounded, and found 
forty-five fathom water, with hard ground at the bottom. This 
morning our people and canoes that were sent to take the fish- 
ermen returned, not being able to find either their houses or 
the river. They reported withal, they had had a very fresh 
wind all the night long under shore, whereas we had not one 
breath of wind all night on board. 

Tuesday, October 26th. The evening before, about six 
o'clock, we left the ship to go to take Arica, resolved to land 
about the difference of a league to windward of the town. We 
were about six leagues from the town when we left the ship, 
whereby we were forced to row all night, that we might reach 
before day the place of our landing. Towards morning, the ca- 
noes left the launch, which they had all night in a tow, and 
wherein I was, and made all the speed they possibly could for 
the shore, with design to land before the launch could arrive. 
But being come near the place we designed to land at, we found, 
to our great disappointment, we were discovered; and that, all 
along the shore, and through the country, they had certain 
news of our arrival. Notwithstanding we would have landed, 
if we could by any means have found a place to do it in. But 
the sea ran so high, and with such a force against the rocks, 
that our boats must needs have v been staved in a thousand pieces, 
and we in great danger of wetting our arms, if we should ven- 
ture ashore. The bay all around was possessed by several par- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



235 




236 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ties of horse, and likewise the tops of the hills; which seemed 
to be gathered there, by a general alarm, through the whole 
country, and that they waited only for our landing, with a de- 
sign to make a strong opposition against us. They fired a gun 
at us, but we made them no answer^ returning to our ship, till 
a fairer opportunity. The hill of Arica is very white, oc- 
casioned by the dung of the abundance of fowls that build their 
nests in the hollow thereof. To leeward of the said hill lies a 
small island, at about a mile from the shore. About half a 
league from that island, we could perceive six ships at anchor ; 
four of which had their yards taken down from their masts, but 
the other two seemed ready to sail. We asked our pilot con- 
cerning these ships, and he told us, that one of them was 
mounted with six guns, and the other with only four. Being 
disappointed of our expectations at Arica, we now resolved to 
bear away from thence to the village of Hilo, there to take in 
water and other provisions, as also to learn what intelligence 
we could obtain. All that night we lay under a calm. 

October 27, in the morning, we found ourselves about a 
league to windward of Mora da Sama. Notwithstanding the 
weather was quite calm, and we only drove with the current 
at leeward. The land between Hilo and Mora da Sama forms 
two several bays, and the coast runs along N. \V. and S. E., as 
may appear by the following demonstration. Over the land 
we could see from our ship, as we drove, the coming or rising 
of a very high land, at a great distance far up in the country. 

October 28. The night before we sent away our four canoes 
with fifty men in them, to seize and plunder the town of Hilo. 
All this day was very calm, as the day before. 

The next morning, about break of day, we had a fair breeze 
spring up, with which we lay right in with the port. About 
one in the afternoon we anchored. 

We cast anchor at the distance of two miles from the village : 
and then we perceived two flags, which our men had put out, 
having taken the town, and set up our English colors. The 
Spaniards were retreated to the hills, and there had done the 
same. Being come to an anchor, our commander, Captain 
Sharp, sent a canoe on board of us, and ordered that all the 
men our ship could spare should come ashore. Withal they 
told us, that those of our party that landed the morning before, 
were met by some horsemen on the shore, who only exchanged 
some few-volleys of shot with our men, but were soon put to 
flight. That hereupon our forces had marched directly to the 
town, where the Spaniards, expecting we should have landed at 
first, made a breastwork thirty paces long, of clay and banks 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 237 

of sand. Here, in a small skirmish, we happened to kill an In- 
dian, who told us before he died, that they had received news 
of our coming nine days ago, from Lima, and but one day be- 
fore from Arica. Having taken the town, we found therein 
great quantity of pitch, tar, oil, wine, and flour, with several 
other sorts of provisions. We endeavored to keep as good a 
watch as the Spaniards did on the hills, fearing lest they should 
suddenly make any attempt to destroy us. 

Next day, being October 30, Ave chose out threescore of our 
men who were fittest to march, and ordered them to go up and 
search the the valley belonging to the town. We found it very 
pleasant, being all overset with fig-trees, olive-trees, orange, 
lemon, and lime-trees, with many other agreeable fruits. About 
four miles up the valley we came to a sugar work, or Ingenio 
de azucar, as it is called by the Spaniards, where we found 
great store of oil and molasses ; but most of the sugar the 
owners had hidden from us in the cane itself. As we marched 
up the valley, the Spaniards marched along the hills, and ob- 
served our motion. From the tops of the hills, they often tum- 
bled great stones upon us, but with great care we endeavored to 
escape those dangers, and the report of one gun would make 
them all to hide their heads immediately. From this house, I 
mean the sugar work above mentioned, Mr. Cox, myself, and 
one Cannis, a Dutchman, (who was our interpreter,) went to 
the Spaniards with a flag of truce. They met us very civilly, 
and promised to give us fourscore beeves for the ransom of the 
sugar-work, upon condition that it should not be spoiled nor 
demolished. With them we agreed, that they should be deliv- 
ered to us at the port, the next day at noon : hereupon Captain 
Sharp in the evening sent down to the port twenty men, with 
strict orders that our forces should offer no violence, in the least, 
to those that brought down the beeves. 

Sunday, October 31. This day, being employed in casting 
up some accounts belonging to our navigation, I reckoned that 
Hilo was the eastward of Paita, one hundred and eighty-seven 
leagues. This morning the captain of the Spaniards came to 
our commander, Captain Sharp, with a flag of truce, and told 
him that sixteen beeves were already sent down to the port, 
and that the rest should certainly be there the next morning. 
Hereupon we were ordered to prepare ourselves to retreat, and 
march back to the port, and there embark ourselves on board 
our ship. My advice was to the contrary, that we should rather 
leave twenty men behind to keep the house of the sugar-work, 
and that others should possess themselves of the hills, thereby 
to clear them of the Spaniards and their lookout. But my 



238 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

counsel not being regarded, each man took away what burden 
of sugar he pleased, and thus we returned to our vessel. Being 
come there, we found no beeves had been brought down at all, 
which made us suspect some trick of the enemy. 

The next morning, being November 1, our Captain went 
to the top of the hills before mentioned, and spoke with the 
Spaniards themselves, concerning the performance of their 
agreement. The Spaniards made answer, that the cattle would 
certainly come down this night ; but in case they did not, that 
the master or owner of the sugar-work was now returned from 
Potosi, and we might go up and treat with him, and make, if 
we pleased, a new bargain for the preservation of his house and 
goods ; whose interest it was, more than theirs, to save it from 
being demolished. With this answer our men returned, and 
we concluded to wait till the next day for the delivery of the 
beeves. 

The day following, about eight in the morning, there came 
into us a flag of truce from the enemy, telling us, that the 
winds were so high, that they could not drive the cattle, other- 
wise they had been delivered before now. But withal, that by 
noon we should in no manner fail to have them brought to us. 
Noon being come, and no cattle appearing, we now having filled 
our water, and finished other concerns, resolved to be revenged 
on the enemy, and do them what mischief we could ; at least, 
by setting fire on the sugar-work. Hereupon, threescore men 
of us marched up the valley, and burnt both the house, the 
canes, and the mill, belonging to the Ingenio. We broke like- 
wise the coppers, coggs, and multitudes of great jars of oil, that 
we found in the house. This being done, we brought away 
more sugar, and returned to the port over the hills and moun- 
tains, the which we found very pleasant, smooth, and level, 
after once we had ascended them. It fell out very fortunately 
fb us that we returned back the way we did, for otherwise our 
men at the sea-side had inevitably been cut off, and torn in 
pieces by the enemy, they being at that time dispersed, and 
straggling up and down by two and three in a party. For from 
the hills we spied coming from the northward of the bay above 
three hundred horsemen, all riding at full speed towards our 
men, who had not as yet descried them, and little thought of 
any such danger from the enemy so nigh at hand. Being 
alarmed with this sight, we threw down what sugar we had, 
and ran incontinently to meet them, thereby to give our other 
men time to rally, and put themselves into a posture of de- 
fence. We being in good rank and order, fairly proffered them 
battle upon the bay ; but as we advanced to meet them, they 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 239 

retired and rode towards the mountains to surround us, and take 
the rocks from us if possibly they could. Hereupon, perceiv- 
ing their intentions, we returned back and possessed -ourselves 
of the said rocks, and also of the lower town ; as the Spaniards 
themselves did of the upper town, (at the distance of half a 
mile from the lower,) the hills and the woods adjoining there- 
unto. The horsemen being now in possession of these quar- 
ters, we could perceive, as far as we could see, more and more 
men resort to them, so that their forces increased hourly to 
considerable numbers. We fired one at another as long as we 
could reach, and the day would permit. But in the mean 
while we observed that several of them rode to the watch-hill, 
and looked out often to the seaboard. This gave us occasion 
to fear that they had more strength and forces coming that 
way, which they expected every minute. Hereupon, lest we 
should speed worse than we had done before, we resolved to 
embark silently in the dark of the night, and go off from that 
coast where the enemy was so well provided for us. We" car- 
ried off a great chest of sugar, whereof we shared seven pound 
weight and a half each man, thirty jars of oil, and great plenty 
of all sorts of garden herbs, roots, and most excellent fruit. 



CHAPTER XXXYIII. 

The Buccaneers depart from trie Port of Hilo, and sail to that of Coquimbo. — 
They arc descried before their Arrival ; notwithstanding, they land. — Are 
encountered by the Spaniards, and put them to Flight. — They take, plunder, 
and fire the City of La Sarena. — A Description thereof. — A Stratagem of the 
Spaniards in endeavoring to fire their Ship "discovered and prevented. — They 
are deceived again by the Spaniards, and forced to retire from Coquimbo, 
■without any Ransom for the City, or considerable Pillage. — They release 
several of their chiefest Prisoners. 

The next morning, being Wednesday, November 3, 1680, 
about seven o'clock, we set sail from Hilo, standing directly 
off to sea, with a small land wind. Upon the shore we could 
not discover this morning above fifty men of our enemies' forces, 
which caused us to suspect the rest were run away from their 
colors, and had deserted in the dark of the night. If this were 
so, we were equally afraid of each other; and as- we quitted 
the land being jealous of their multitudes, so they abandoned 
their stations for fear of our encounters.. AH the while we lay 
in the. port of Hilo we had. a fresh wind ; but being come out 



240 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

thence, Ave found it almost stark calm. All along this coast 
runs a great sea, as we experimented at Arica, insomuch that 
there is no landing, except under the favor of some rock or 
other. 

November 4th, in the morning, we saw the port of Hilo at 
E. N. E., at the distance of nine leagues, or thereabouts, from 
land. The white sand gives a bright reflection over the land, 
which we could see after we had lost the sight of the land 
itself. 

The day following we had an indifferent fresh wind at S. 
S. E. We reckoned a S. W. half W. way, and by it, that we 
had made twenty leagues. The day was very fair and sun- 
shiny, and the sea very smooth. 

November 6th. We had a clear night the last past, and the 
day proved very fair and clear, like the former ; we reckoned 
by a S. W. by W. way about twenty-one leagues. In the 
afternoon it was almost quite calm. 

The day following we had no more than the last twenty-four 
hours. We were about this time many of us troubled with 
the scurvy. It proceeded, as we judged, from the great hard- 
ship and want of provisions, which we had endured for several 
months past, as having only bread and water, as was mentioned 
above — only at Hilo we killed a mule, which was looked upon 
by those that eat of it to be very good victuals, the Spaniards 
having swept away with them all other provisions of flesh. 
But we got there, as plunder, a small quantity of good choco- 
late, which the Spaniards have in great esteem ; so now we 
had each morning a dish of pleasant liquor, containing almost 
a pint. 

Next day, likewise, we had very little wind as before. We 
made an observation this day, and found latitude 20 J o' S. 

November 9th. We had still very little wind, and that vari- 
able. We took almost every hour an observation, and found 
ourselves to be in latitude 20° 18' S. 

November 10th, we had in like manner but little wind. We 
observed an E. S. E. current, or pretty near it, run hereabouts. 
This day we saw the homing of a very high land, which much 
surprised us, for at this time I conceived we could not be less 
than thirty-five or forty leagues from land. We supposed it to 
be Mora Tarapaca. That day we set up our shrouds. 

Upon the 11th, an indifferent gale of wind sprang up at S. 
W. by S., by which we made twenty-five leagues and one 
third. We had now a great S. S. W. sea. In the night the 
wind, as we experimented, came one or two points from the 
land. This morning we saw the like homing of land, whereby 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 241 

we were made sensible it was no land we had seen the day- 
be fore. 

On the 12th, we had several mists of rain, with windy 
weather. We made by a S. S. W. half S. way twenty-five 
leagues and one third. We had likewise a great and rolling 
S. S. W. sea, as the day before. 

November 13th, we had both cloudy and misty weather. We 
made a S. S. W. and one quarter S. way, by which we ran 
fifty leagues. 

But the next day, fair and clear weather came about again. 
We had likewise an easy gale of wind, by which we made a 
S. W. way, and advanced twenty-two leagues and a half. 

On the 15th of November we had also clear weather, and an 
indifferent gale of wind. Our way was S. W. by W., by 
which we reckoned eighteen leagues; .likewise at our westing 
from Hilo, from whence we set forth, was one hundred and 
fourteen leagues and one third. Our latitude, by observation, 
we found to be 23° 25' S. I took now the declination table 
used and made by the cosmographer at Lima. 

Tuesday, November 16th. In the night last past we had a 
shower or two of rain. This day we made an observation, by 
which we found latitude 23° 35' S. 

November 17th, we made a S. W. by W. half S. way. By' 
observation we found latitude 23° 46' S., with very little wind. 

November 18th, upon a S. W. by W. way we made twenty- 
one leagues. By observation we found latitude 23° 20' S. 

Friday, November 19th, 1680. This morning, about an 
hour before day, we observed a comet to appear a degree north 
from the bright star in Libra. The body thereof seemed dull, 
and its tail extended itself eighteen or twenty degrees in length, 
being of a pale color, and pointing directly N. N. W. Our 
prisoners hereupon told us that the Spaniards had seen very 
strange sights both at Lima, the capital city of Peru, Guaya- 
quil, and other places much about the time of our coming into 
the South seas. I reckon this day we had run twenty leagues 
by a S. W. way. 

The day following the appearance of the comet, we had 
many storms of wind at S. S. E. and E. S. E. Our reckoning 
by a S. W. way was twenty-two leagues. 

Sunday, November 21st, likewise many gusts of wind, such 
as the day before, with frequent showers of rain. The wind 
varied to and fro, according as the clouds drew it here and 
there. We reckoned a S. S. W. way, and by it twenty-one 
leagues and a half. In all, west from Hilo, we judged our- 
selves to be one hundred and seventy-eight leagues and twc 
21 



242 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

thirds. We had this day a great S. W. sea, and cloudy weather. 
I supposed our latitude to be 26° 53' S. 

November 22d, we had in like manner cloudy weather, and 
now but little wind. We reckoned a south way, and fifty-one 
leagues. 

November 23d, we had very little wind ; and all storm, after 
the appearance of the comet, being now quite allayed, we 
reckoned we had made a S. E. by S. way, and found our lati- 
tude, by observation, to bear 27° 46' S. 

Wednesday, November 24th. For twenty-four hours past 
we had a N. W. wind. Our way was S. E. half S., by which 
we reckoned thirty-one leagues and one third. 

November 25th. Last night the wind blew at W. S. W. ; 
but this morning it came about again at N. W., as the day be- 
fore. Our reckoning this day was a S. E. and one quarter E. 
way twenty-nine leagues and one third. Our latitude now, 
by observation, made this day. was 39° 57' S. Our difference 
of meridian, one hundred and thirty-five and one third. 

November 26th. In the night the wind started to S. S. W. 
But this day at noon we had little better than a calm. I 
reckoned an E. S. E. half E. way, and by it twenty-three 
leagues. 

Saturday, November 27th. Yesterday, in the evening, the 
wind came to south. I reckoned an east and something south- 
erly way, and by that twenty-three leagues, as the day before. 

November 28th. For twenty-four hours past we had a fresh 
wind at S. S. E., having a high S. W. sea. Our reckoning 
was an E. by N. and half N. way, and withal twenty-four 
leagues. By observation we found latitude 30 J 10' S., and 
meridian distance eighty-eight leagues. At noon the wind 
came at S. half E. 

On the 29th we had a very great S. W. sea, and withal 
cloudy weather. My reckoning was an E. one third S. 
way twenty leagues and one third. This day we happened to 
see two or three great fowls flying in the air, which our pilot 
told us used to appear seventy or eighty leagues off from the 
island called the Island of Juan Fernandez. The day before 
this, Captain Peralta, our prisoner, was taken very frantic, his 
distemper being occasioned, as we thought, through too much 
hardship and melancholy. Notwithstanding, this day he was 
indifferently well again. 

The following day we had likewise cloudy weather. ' We 
made, according to our account, an E. half N. way, and by it 
sixteen leagues and two thirds. Our meridian difference fiit.v- 
two leagues. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 243 

The 1st of December we had hazy weather, and withal an 
indifferent, good wind at S., yea, sometimes S. by W. Onr 
way was E. by S., by which we reckoned twenty-two leagues. 
The night before, we sailed over white water-like banks, of a 
mile in length, or more. But these banks, upon examination, 
we found to be only great shoals of anchovies. 

December 2d, very early in the morning, we spied land, which 
appeared to be very high. About noon this day we were at six 
leagues distance from it. All the preceding night we had so 
much wind, thaf we were forced to make use of a pair of cours- 
es. By an observation made this day, we found latitude 30° 
35' S. We went away largely, driving better than nine leagues 
every watch. With this wind we made all the sail we possibly 
could, designing by this means to get to Coquimbo, upon which 
coast we now were, before night. Bnt the wind was so high, 
that sometimes we were forced to lower all our sails, it blowing 
now a mere fret of wind. Towards evening it abated by de- 
grees, insomuch, that at midnight it was quite calm again. 
Then we hoisted out our launch and canoes, and putting into 
them one hundred men, we rowed away from the ship, with 
design to take by surprisal a considerable city near the coast, 
called by the Spaniards, La Cividad de la Serena. 

Friday, December 3d, 1680. When we departed from the 
ship, we had about two leagues to row to the shore. But as it 
happened, the launch wherein I was rowed so heavy, in com- 
parison of the canoes, that we could not keep pace with them. 
For this reason it was broad day before we got to a certain 
storehouse situated upon the shore ; our men having passed by- 
it in the dark of the night without perceiving it. They being 
landed, immediately marched away from their canoes, towards 
the city before mentioned of La Serena. But we had not pro- 
ceeded far on our march, when we found, to the great sorrow 
and chagrin of us all, that we were timely discovered here also, 
as we had been at the other two places before, Arica and Hilo. 
For as they marched in a body together, being but thirty-five 
men in all, who were all those that were landed out of the ca- 
noes, they were suddenly encountered and engaged by a whole 
troop of a hundred Spanish horse. We that were behind, 
hearing the noise of the dispute, followed them at their heels, 
and made all the haste we possibly could, to come up to their 
relief. But before we could reach the place of the battle, they 
had already routed the Spaniards, and forced them to fly to- 
wards the town. 

Notwithstanding this rout, they rallied again, at the distance 
of about a mile from the place, and seemed as if they waited 



244 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

for ns, and would engage ns anew. But as soon as all out 
forces were come together, which were in all eighty-four, the 
rest being left to guard the boats, we marched towards them 
and offered them battle. As we came near unto them, we 
found plainly they designed no such thing ; for they instantly 
retired and rode away before us, keeping out of the reach of our 
guns. We followed them as they rode, being led by them de- 
signedly, clear out of the road that went to the town, that we 
might not reach nor find it so soon. In this engagement with 
the horse, our company had killed three of their chiefest men, 
and wounded four more, killing also four of their horses. When 
we found that we had been led by this stratagem of the ene- 
my out of the way of the town, we left the bay, and crossed 
over the green fields to find it, wading oftentimes over several 
branches of water, which there serve to enclose each plat of 
ground. Upon this march we came to several houses, but found 
them all empty, and swept clean both of inhabitants and pro- 
visions. We saw likewise several horses and other heads of 
cattle in the fields, as we went along towards the city. This 
place of La Serena, our pilot had reported to us to be but a 
small town ; but being arrived there, we found in it no fewer 
than seven great churches and one chapel. Four of these 
churches were monasteries or convents, and each church had 
its organs for the performance of divine service. Several of the 
houses had their orchards of fruit, and gardens belonging to 
them ; both houses and gardens being as well and as neatly fur- 
nished as those in England. In these gardens we found straw- 
berries as big as walnuts, and those very delicious to the taste. 
In a word, every thing in this city of La Serena was most ex- 
cellent and delicate, and far beyond what we could expect in so 
remote a place. The town was inhabited by all sorts of trades- 
men, and besides them, had its merchants, some of which were 
accounted very rich. 

The inhabitants of La Serena, upon our approach, fled, car- 
rying with them the best of their goods and jewels; and what 
they could not carry away that was of value, they buried, hav- 
ing had time enough to do so, from the advice they received of 
our coming from Arica and other places. Notwithstanding, we 
took in the town one friar, and two Chilenos, or Spaniards, na- 
tives of the kingdom of Chili, which adjoins to that of Peru, to- 
wards the Straits of Magellan. These prisoners told us, that the 
Spaniards, when they heard of our coming, had killed most of 
their Chilian slaves, fearing they should revolt from them to 
us. Moreover, that we had been descried from their coasts four 
days before our landing ; all which tithe they had employed in 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 245 

carrying away their plate and goods. To this information they 
added, that for their defence they had received a supply of sixty 
men from Arica. Having taken possession of the town, that 
evening there came a negro to us, running away from the Span- 
iards. He informed us, that when we were before Panama, we 
had taken a negro, who was esteemed the best pilot in all the 
South Sea ; but more especially for this place, and the coasts 
of Coquimbo. And further, that if the Spaniards had not sent 
all the negroes belonging to this city farther up into the coun- 
try, out of our reach and communication, they would all un- 
doubtedly have revolted to us. 

That night, about twelve, our boatswain, accompanied by 
forty men, with a Chilian for their guide, went out of the town 
some miles into the country, with design to find out the places 
where the Spaniards lay concealed, and had hid their goods and 
plate. But before they came, the Spaniards had got intelli- 
gence thereof from some secret spies they had in the town, 
and both the men and their women were all fled to places that 
were more occult and remote. So that, by this search, they 
only found an old Indian woman and three children, but no 
gold nor plate. This morning our ship came to an anchor 
by the storehouse above mentioned t , named Tortuga, at the 
distance of a furlong from shore, in the depth of seven fathom 
water. 

Next morning, being Saturday, December 4th, came into the 
town a flag of truce from the enemy. Their message was to 
proffer a ransom for the town, to preserve it from burning ; for 
now they began to fear we would set fire to it, as having found 
no considerable booty nor pillage therein. The chief com- 
manders on both sides met about this point, and agreed betwixt 
them for the sum of ninety-five thousand pieces of eight, for 
the whole ransom. In the afternoon I was sent down to the 
Bay of Coquimbo, with a party of twenty men, to carry thither 
some goods we had taken in the town, as also provisions for 
the ship. It is two leagues and a half from the town to the 
port ; one league on the bay, the rest being a very great road, 
which leads from the bay to the city. The Spaniards prom- 
ised that the ransom should be collected and paid in by the 
next day. This day also there died one of our negro slaves, 
on board the ship. 

The day following, in the morning, I came back to the town, 
with the men I had brought down the day before ; only six of 
them I left behind, to look after our canoes at the end of the 
bay. When I came to the city, I found that the Spaniards had 
broken their promise, and had not brought in the ransom they 
21* 



246 THE BUCCANEERS OT AMERICA. 

had agreed for; but had begged time till to-morrow at eight in 
the forenoon. This evening, another party of our men went 
down to the ship to carry such goods as we had pillaged in the 
town. That night, about nine of the clock, happened an earth- 
quake, the which we were very sensible of, as we were all to- 
gether in the church of San Juan, where our chief rendez- 
vous and corps de garde was kept. In the night the Span- 
iards opened a sluice, and let the water run in streams about 
the town, with intent either to overflow it, and thereby force 
us out of the place, or at least that they might the easier quench 
the flame, in case we should fire the town. 

Next morning we set fire to the town, perceiving it to be 
overflown, and that the Spaniards had not performed, or rather, 
that they never designed to perform, their promise. We fired, 
as nigh as we could, every house in the whole town, to the end 
that it might be totally reduced to ashes. Thus we left La 
Serena, carrying with us what plunder we could find, having 
sent two parties before, loaded with goods to the ship, as was 
mentioned above. As we marched down to the bay, we beat 
up an ambuscade of two hundred and fifty horse, which lay 
hid in the way, with an intent to fall on our men, in case we had 
sent down any other party with goods to the ship. We received 
advice that the Spaniards had endeavored, by an unusual strat- 
agem, to burn our ship, and thereby destroy us all. They blew 
up a horse's hide like a bladder, and upon this float a man ven- 
tured to swim from shore, and come under the stern of our 
ship. Being arrived there, he crammed oakum and brimstone, 
and other combustible matter, between the rudder and the stern- 
post. Having done this, he fired it with a match, so that in a 
smail time our rudder was on fire, and all the ship in a smoke. 
Our men, both alarmed and amazed with this smoke, ran up 
and down the ship, suspecting the prisoners to have fired the 
vessel, thereby to get their liberty and destroy us. At last 
they found out where the fire was, and had the good fortune to 
quench it before its going too far. As soon as they had put it 
out, they sent the boat ashore, and found both the hide before 
mentioned, and the match burning at both ends, whereby they 
discovered the whole matter. When we came to the store- 
house on the shore side, we set at liberty the' friar our prisoner, 
and another gentleman, who was become our hostage for the 
performance of the ransom. And when we came aboard, we 
likewise set at liberty Captain Peralta, Don Thomas de Argan- 
dona, Don Baltazar, Don Christeval, Captain Juan, the pilot's 
mate, the old Moor, and several other of our chief prisoners. 
To this releasement of our prisoners we were moved, partly be- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 24? 

cause we knew not well what to do with them, and partly be- 
cause we feared that, by the example of this stratagem, they 
might be able to effect what the other had attempted with so 
much likelihood of success. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

JThe Buccaneers set sail from Coquimbo for the Isle of Juan Fernandez. '■ — An 
exact Account of this Voyage. — Misery they endure, and great Dangers 
they escape there. — They mutiny among themselves, and choose YVatling 
to be their chief Commander. — Description of the Island. — Three Span- 
ish Men-of-War meet with the Buccaneers at the said Island : with what 
happened thereupon. 

Being all embarked again, as was mentioned in the prece- 
dent chapter, the next morning, which was Tuesday, Decem- 
ber 7th, twenty of us were sent ashore to observe the motions 
of the enemy. We went to the lookout, or watch-hill, but 
could learn nothing from thence. Hereupon, about noon we 
returned on board the ship, and at two in the afternoon we 
weighed anchor and set sail, directing our course for the Island 
of Juan Fernandez, not far from the coast of Coquimbo. At 
night, we were five leagues distant from thence, at N. W. by 
N. The southernmost island of those which are called De los 
Paxaros, or Islands of Birds, was then N. N. W. from us. Be- 
fore our departure, I took a draught of the Bay of Coquimbo, 
and of the city of La Serena. 

December 8th, we had but very little wind, and a leeward 
current here, which we could perceive heaved us to the north- 
ward. The afore-mentioned Island De los Paxaros, at three 
in the afternoon, bore N. E. of us, at the distance of three 
leagues, or thereabouts. 

It is four leagues distant from the main continent, and from 
the next island of the same name, about two. The main is 
extremely high and mountainous hereabouts. At evening we 
were west from the said island five leagues. About eight or 
nine leagues to the windward of Coquimbo are certain white 
cliffs, which appear from the shore to those that are off at sea. 

December 9th, we had likewise but little wind, as the clay 
before. I supposed myself this day* to be abont thirteen 
leagues west from the island above mentioned. The weather 
was cloudy, with mizzling rain, so that no observation could be 



248 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

taken. However, this day it was thought convenient to come 
to an allowance of water, for we had taken in little or none at 
Coquimbo. The same weather, or very like it, we had the 
next day, being the 10th ; that is to say, quite calm and 
cloudy. 

December 11th, we had some small rain the fore part of the 
day ; but in the afternoon it cleared up, so that the weather 
was very hot. We had still but little wind. 

The next day, December 12th, we had very fair weather, 
and by a clear observation made this day, we found latitude 
30° 6' S. 

December 13th. By a W. S. W. way, we made forty-two 
leagues. By observation, we found latitude 30° 45' S. D. M. 
four leagues and two thirds. 

The 14th, in the morning, we had a handsome shower of 
rain, which continued for some time. Then about eight 
o' clock there sprung up a S. S. W. breeze. My reckoning 
was by an E. S. E. way fourteen leagues ; and, by obser- 
vation, we found this day 30° 30' S. In the afternoon died 
one of our men, whose name was William Cam mock. His 
disease was occasioned by a surfeit, got by too much drinking 
on shore at La Serena, which produced a calenture, or malig- 
nant fever, and a hiccough. In the evening we buried him in 
the sea, according to the usual custom of mariners, giving him 
three French volleys for his funeral. 

The day following we had an indifferent fresh wind on both 
tacks. Our way was W. S. W., and by it we reckoned thirty- 
four leagues. So, likewise, by an observation, we had latitude 
30° 42' S. All the afternoon blew a S. by W. wind, very 
fresh, with a short topping S. W. sea. 

But the next day we had no small breezes, but rather hard 
gusts of wind. These grew so high, that they forced us to 
take in our topsails. We made a S. W. half S. way, and 
forty-five leagues. 

On the 17th, we had likewise high winds, and withal a 
S. W. sea. Our way was W. by S. By an observation taken 
this day, we found latitude 30"" 5V S. In the afternoon we 
had a S. S. E. wind, our course being S. W. 

December 18th. This day we had the same high winds as 
before, at S. S. E. We reckoned by a W. S. W. way forty- 
five leagues. At noon the wind was something fallen, and 
then we had some rain. 

The 19th, we had both cloudy and windy weather. My 
reckoning was a S. W. by S. way, and hereupou fifty-eight 
miles. Yesterday we were assured by our pilot that we were 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 249 

now in the meridian of Juan Fernandez, whither our course 
was directed for the present. That which occasioned him to 
be so positive in this assertion, was the seeing of those great 
birds, of which we made mention in the foregoing chapter. 

On the 20th, we had cloudy weather in the morning on 
both tacks. We made a S. W. and half S. way, and by it 
fifty-two leagues. By an observation, we found this day 
latitude 32° 30' S. Difference of meridian was now one hun- 
dred and thirty-two leagues. 

The next day, likewise, we had cloudy weather ; yet, by 
an observation, we found a W. way. On the 22d, by obser- 
vation, we found an E. way proved. 

Thursday, December 23d. All the night past we had a 
fresh wind ; but in the morning, from the topmast head, we 
descried a hammock of land. In the evening we saw it 
again. We found afterwards that what we had seen was the 
westernmost island of Juan Fernandez ; which- is nothing but a 
mere rock, there being no riding nor scarce landing near it. 

Friday, December 24th. This morning we could descry 
the island itself of Juan Fernandez, S. by E., it being at six- 
teen leagues distance when we saw it the day before. At 
seven this morning, the island stood E., the wind being at 
N. W. by N. 

Here my observation was, that I could neither fowl nor fish 
near this island ; both which are usual about other islands. 
Having told my observation to our pilot, he answered me that 
he had made many voyages by this island, and yet never saw 
either fowl or fish. Our reckoning this day was an E. S. E. 
way, and hereby thirty-six leagues. Our latitude, by obser- 
vation, was found to be 33° 30' S. 

Saturday, December 25th. The 24th, at three o'clock, we 
saw the other island, making two or three hammocks of land. 
This morning we were about eight leagues from it, the island 
bearing E. S. E. from us. At eight the same morning, we 
were right abreast with it. Here, therefore, are two islands 
together, the biggest whereof is three leagues and a half in 
length, nearest N. W. and S. E. The other, and lesser, is 
almost one league in circumference. At ten o'clock, we sent 
off from the ship one of our canoes to seek for the best land- 
ing and anchoring for our vessel. ■ As we approached, both 
islands seemed to us but one entire heap of rocks. That which 
lies more to the north is the highest, though we could not see 
the tops thereof, for the clouds covered it ; in most places it ia 
bo steep, that it becomes almost perpendicular. 

This day, being Christmas day, we gave in the morning; 



250 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

early three volleys of shot, for solemnization of that great fes- 
tival. I reckoned an E. by S. way. By a clear observation 
from the middle of the island, I found here latitude 33° 45' S., 
and M. D. to. be ninety-nine leagues. In the evening we 
came to an anchor at the south end of the island, in a stately 
bay, but which lies open to the south, and to the south-east 
winds. We anchored in the depth of eleven fathom water, 
and at the distance of only one furlong from the shore. Here 
we saw multitudes of seals, covering the bay every where, 
insomuch that we were forced to kill them before we could 
set foot on shore. 

Sunday, December 26th. This day we sent a canoe to see 
if we could find any riding secure from the southerly winds, 
these being the most constant winds that blow on these coasts. 
The canoe being gone, our commander sent, likewise, what 
men we could spare on shore, to drive goats, whereof there is 
great plenty in this island. They caught and killed that day 
to the number of threescore, or thereabouts. The canoe return- 
ing to the ship, made report that there was good riding in 
another bay, situate on the north side of the island, in fourteen 
fathom water, and not above one quarter of a mile from the 
shore, and that there was much wood to be had ; whereas, in 
the place where we first anchored, not one stick of wood, nor 
tuft of grass, was to be found. 

The next day, being the 27th, between two and four in the 
morning, we had a tempest of violent winds, and fierce show- 
ers of rain. The same day we got in two hundred jars of 
water, bringing them a full league from the place of our riding. 
Meanwhile, others were employed to catch goats, as they had 
done the day before. 

On the 28th of the said month, in the morning, I went with 
ten more of our company, and two canoes, to fetch water from 
the land. Being come thither, and having filled our jars, we 
could not get back to the ship, by reason of a southerly wind, 
that blew from off the ocean, and hindered our return. Thus 
we were forced to lie still in a water hole, and wait till the 
wind- was over for a safer opportunity. While the violence of 
the wind increased, our ship was forced to get under sail, and 
make away, not without danger of being forced ashore. Here- 
upon, we sailed out of the harbor, to seek another place of an- 
choring. At noon I ventured out, to try if I could follow the 
ship, but was forced in again by the wind and raging sea. 
Thus we lay still for some while longer, till the evening came 
on. This being come, we ventured out again, both canoes 
ogether ; but the winds were then so high, that we were 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. / 251 

forced to throw all our jars of water overboard to lighten our 
boats, otherwise we had inevitably perished. I ought to bless 
Almighty God for this deliverance ; for, in all human reason, 
the least wave of that tempest might have sunk us. Notwith- 
standing, we came that night to our place of harbor, where we 
expected to have found our ship, (called False Wild Harbor,) 
but found her not. Hereupon, not knowing what to do, we 
went ashore, and hauled up our canoes dry. Having done this, 
we went higher up into the island, along a gully, for the space 
of half a mile, there to clear ourselves of the noise and com- 
pany of the seals, which were very troublesome on the shore. 
Here we kindled a fire, and dried our clothes, and rested our- 
selves all night, though with extreme hungry bellies, as having 
eaten very little or nothing all the day before. In the sides 
of the hill, under which we lay, we observed many holes like 
coney-holes. These holes are the nests and roosting-places 
of multitudes of birds that breed in this island, called by the 
Spaniards pardelas. One of these birds, as we lay drying and 
warming ourselves, fell down into our fire. 

The next morning being come, very early before sunrise we 
went farther to the northward, to seek for our ship, which we 
feared we had lost ; but we were not gone far when we espied 
her at sea. Hereupon we passed a point of land, and entered 
a certain bay, which was about a mile deep, and not above 
half a league over. In this bay we put, and instantly made a 
fire, thereby to show the ship whereabouts we were. Here we 
found good watering and wooding close to the shore. In this 
bay we also saw another sort of amphibious animal, which I 
imagined to be the same that by some authors is called a sea 
lion. These animals are six times bigger than seals. Their 
heads are like that of a lion, and they have four fins not unlike 
a tortoise. The hinder parts of these creatures are much like 
fins, but are drawn after them, as being useless upon the shore/ 
They roared as if they had been lions, and were full of a short, 
thick hair, of a mouse color ; but that of the young one? was 
something lighter. The old ones are between twelve and four- 
teen feet long, and about eleven or twelve feet in thickness or 
circumference. A seal is very easily killed, as we often ex- 
perimented ; but two of our men with great stones could not 
kill one of these animals. 

That day, in the afternoon, there came a canoe, from on 
board the ship, with provisions for us, they fearing lest we 
should be starved ; also the launch came with men to cut wood. 
They told us that the ship came to an anchor in the other 
bay ; but that within half an hour the cable broke and they 



252 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

were forced to leave their anchor behind them, and get out to 
sea again. Night being come, we made our beds of fern, 
whereof there is great plenty upon this island ; together with 
great multitude's of trees like English box, the which bore a 
sort of green berries, smelling like pimento, or pepper. All 
this day the ship was forced to ply off at sea, not being able to 
get in. 

December 30th. The morning of this day we employed in 
filling water, and cutting down wood; but in the afternoon, 
eight of us eleven went aboard the ship, all in one and the 
same canoe, sending her ashore again with provisions for the 
men that were there. This day, in like manner, we could not 
get into the harbor ; for no sooner came the ship within land, 
but the wind, coming out of the bay, blew us clear out again. 
Thus we were forced to ply out all that night, and great part 
of the following day. 

Next day, having overcome all difficulties, and many dan- 
gers, we came to an anchor, in the afternoon, in fifteen fathom 
water, at the distance of a cable's length from shore. Here it 
was observable, that we were forced to keep me.n ashore on 
'purpose to beat off the seals, while our men filled water, at 
high-water mark, because the seals covet greatly to lie in fresh 
water. About this island fish is so plentiful, that, in less 
than an hour's time, two men caught enough for our whole 
company. 

Saturday, January 1st, 1680. This day we put up a new 
main-top, larger than the old one ; and we caught craw-fish 
that were bigger than our English lobsters. 

The next day, being January 2d, died a chief man of our 
company, whose name was John Hilliard. This man, till our 
weighing anchor from the port of Coquimbo, had been our 
master all the space of this voyage ; but from that time we 
chose John Cox for the starboard, and John Fall for the lar- 
board watch. He died of the dropsy. That evening we 
buried our dead companion, and gave him a volley for his 
funeral, according to the usual custom. 

January 3d, we had terrible gusts of wind from the shore 
every hour. This day our pilot told us, that many years ago 
a certain ship was cast away upon this island, and only one 
man saved, who lived alone upon this island five years before 
any ship came this way to carry him off. The island has ex- 
cellent land in many valleys belonging thereto. This day, 
ikewise, we fetched our anchor which we left in the other 
bay when the ship broke her cable. 

Tuesday, January 4th, 1680. This day we had such terri- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 253 

ble flaws of wind that the cable of our ship broke, and we had 
undoubtedly been on shore, had not the other held us fast. At 
last it came home, and we drove outwards. By the way it 
caught hold of a rock, and held some time ; but at last we 
hauled it up. And the wind came with so much violence, that 
the waves flew as high as our main-top, and made all the water 
of a foam. 

January 5th. Notwithstanding these great gusts of wind 
had continued all the night past, yet this day, at noon, it was 
brave and calm. But in the morning the anchor of our ship 
gave way again, and we drove to the eastward more than half 
a mile, till at last we happened to fasten again in the depth 
of sixty fathom water. In this bay, w T here we rode at anchor, 
ran a violent current, sometimes into, and at other times out, 
of the bay ; so that all was uncertain with us. But our great- 
est discomfort was, that our men were all in mutiny against 
each other, and much divided among themselves. Some of them 
being for going home towards England, or our foreign planta- 
tions, and that round about America, through the Straits of 
Magellan, as Captain Sawkins had designed to do ; others 
of them being for staying longer, and searching farther into^ 
those seas, till such time as they had got more money. This 
day, at noon, our anchor drove again ; whereupon, to secure us 
from that dangerous place, we sailed into the west bay, and 
anchored there in twenty-five fathom water, and moored our 
ship a quarter of a mile from shore. 

Thursday, January 6th. Our dissensions being now grown 
to a great height, the mutineers made a new election of a per- 
son to be our chief captain and commander, by virtue whereof 
they deposed Captain Sharp, whom they protested they would 
obey no longer. They chose, therefore, one of our company, 
whose name was John Watling, to command in chief, he hav- 
ing been an old privateer, and gained the esteem of being a 
stout seaman. The election being made, all the rest were 
forced to give their assent to it, and Captain Sharp gave over 
his command ; whereupon, they immediately made articles with 
Watling, and signed them. 

The day following, being the 7th, we burnt and tallowed 
the starboard side of our ship. In this bay we found a cross 
cut in the bark of a tree, and several letters besides. Hereupon, 
in another tree, up the gully, I engraved the two first letters 
of my name, with a cross over them. This day, likewise, 
William' Cook, servant to Captain Edmund Cook, confessed that 
his master had oftentimes buggered him in England, leaving 
his wife and coming to bed to him ; that he had also done the 
22 



254 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

same in Jamaica, and once in these seas before Panama 
Searching his writings, we found a paper' with all our names in 
it, which it was suspected he designed to have given to the 
Spanish prisoners. For these reasons, this evening our captain 
thought it convenient to put him in irons, which was accord- 
ingly done. 

January 8th, we finished the other side of our ship. 

Sunday, January 9th. This was the first Sunday that ever 
we kept by command and common consent since the loss and 
death of our valiant commander, Captain Sawkins, who would 
throw the dice overboard, if he found them in use on that day. 

January 10th, the weather was very clear and settled again. 
We caught every day, in this bay, great plenty of fish; and 1 
saw this day a shoal of fish a mile or more long. 

Next day, being the 11th, we filled our water, and carried 
our wood on board the ship. Our two canoes went to»the other 
side of the island to catch goats ; for on the barren side thereof 
are found and caught the best, and by land it is impossible to 
go from one side of the island to the other. 

Wednesday, January 12th. This morning our canoes re- 
turned from catching of goats, firing of guns as they came 
towards us to give us warning. Being come on board, they 
told us they had espied three sail of ships, which they con- 
ceived to be men-of-war coming about the island. Wiiliin 
half an hour after this notice given by our boats, the ships 
came in sight to leeward of the island. . Hereupon, we imme- 
diately slipped our cables, and put to sea, taking all our men 
on board that were ashore at that time ; only one William, a 
Mosquito Indian, was then left behind upon the island, because 
he could not be found at this our sudden departure. Upon the 
Island of Juan Fernandez grow certain trees called bilby trees. 
The tops of these trees we used as we do cabbage in England. 
Here fish abounds in such quantites, that on the surface of the 
water I have taken fish with a bare hook. Abundance of fish 
is taken here of twenty pound weight ; the smallest that is 
taken being almost two pound. Very good timber for build- 
ing of houses, and other uses, is likewise found upon this 
island. It is distant from the main continent the space of 
ninety-five leagues, or thereabouts, being situate in 33° 40' S. 
The plats of the islands lie N. W. and S. E. 

Being got out of the bay, we stoud off to sea, and kept to 
windward as close as we could. The biggest of these Spanish 
men-of-war, for such they proved to be, was of the burthen of 
800 tons, and was called El Santo Christo, being mounted with 
twelve guns ; the second, named San Francisco, carried 600 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 255 

tons, and ten guns ; the third carried 350 tons, whose name I. 
have forgot. As soon as they saw us, they instantly put out 
their bloody flags; and we, to show them that we were not 
as yet daunted, did the* same with ours. We kept close under 
the wind, and were, to confess the truth, very unwilling to 
fight them, by reason they kept all in a knot together, and we 
could not single out any one of them from the rest ; especially 
considering that our present commander, Watling, had showed 
himself at their appearance to be faint-hearted. As for the 
Spaniards themselves, they might have easily come to us, by 
reason we lay by several times ; but undoubtedly they were 
cowardly given, and peradventure as unwilling to engage us as 
we were to engage them. 

The day following, being January 13th, in the morning, we 
could see one of the afore-mentioned men-of-war, under the 
leeward side of the island ; and we believed that the rest were 
at anchor thereabouts. 

At noon that day, we stood in towards the island, making 
as if we intended to be with them. But in the afternoon, our 
commander propounded the question to us, whether we were 
willing, now that the fleet was to windward, to bear away from 
them. To this we all agreed with one consent. And here- 
upon, night being come, with a fresh wind at S. S. E., we 
stood away N. E. by N., and gave them handsomely the slip, 
after having outbraved them that day, and the day before. 



CHAPTER XL. 

The Buccaneers depart from the Isle of Juan Fernandez to that of Yqucque. — 
They take several Prisoners, and get Intelligence of the Posture of Affairs at 
Arica. — Cruelty to one of the Prisoners, who had rightly informed them. — 
They attempt Arica a second Time, and take the Town, but are beaten out of 
it again without Plunder, and with a great Loss of Men, many of them being 
killed, wounded, or taken Prisoners. — Captain Watling, their chief Command- 
er, is killed in this Attack, and Captain Sharp presently chosen again, who 
leads them off, and through many Difficulties makes a bold Retreat to the Ship. 

Having bid our enemies adieu, as was said in the precedent 
chapter, the next morning, being January 14th, we bore N. E. 
We reckoned this day a N. N. E., one quarter S. way, and by 
it, thirty leagues. We were four leagues eastward from the 
Isle of Juan Fernandez, when I took our departure. 

Saturday, January 15th, we had hazy weather. This day 



256 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

we made by a N. E. by N. way, eleven leagues. The same 
hazy weather continued the 16th, but about ten in the morn- 
ing we had a perfect calm. Our reckoning was a N. E. by N. 
way, and thirty-six leagues. 

On the 17th, -we had a soft gale, and a clear observation. 
We found by it latitude 28° 47' S., easting seventy leagues. 
The next day we had likewise a clear day, and we reckoned 
by a N. E. by N. way. thirty-one leagues by observation, lat- 
itude 27° 29' S. 

Wednesday, January 19rh, we had a clear day, as before, 
and reckoned a N. E. by N. way, and thirty-five leagues and 
two thirds. By observation, we took latitude 25° 0' S. This 
day we put up our top-gallant masts and sails, which we had 
taken at the Island of Juan Fernandez, when we thought to 
have gone directly from thence for the Straits of Magellan. 
But now our resolutions were changed, and our course was 
bent for Arica, that rich place, the second time, to try what 
good we could do upon it. by another attempt, in order to the 
making our fortunes there. In the evening we saw land at a 
great distance. 

January 20th. About midnight past we had a small land 
wind that sprang up and reached us ; at break of day we could 
descry land again, at the distance of about nine or ten leagues. 
This day was very hot and calm, easting ninety-two leagues. 

On the 21st, we had very little wind, and all along as we 
went we could descry a barren high land. We sailed N. by 
E. and N. N. E. along the coast of the continent. 

Saturday, 22d, we had very hot weather. This day we 
sailed N. and N. by E. and looked out continually for the' Isl- 
and of Yqueque, which our pilot told us was hereabouts. We 
kept a just distance from the land, for fear of being descried by 
the enemy. 

The day following, Sunday the 23d, we sailed in like man-, 
ner N. N. E. along the coast, which seems to be very full of 
bays hereabouts. By observation this day, we took latitude 
21o 49' S. 

Monday, January 24th. This day we had an indifferent gale 
of wind, and we stood N. and by E., the wind being S. S. E. 
We found latitude by observation 21° 2' S. our whole easting 
being ninety-two leagues and an half. In the afternoon, Cap- 
tain Watling, our commander, and twenty-five men more, de- 
parted from the ship in two canoes, with design to seek for, 
and take the Island of Yqueque, and there to get intelligence 
of the posture of affairs at Arica. We were at the distance of 
.twelve leagues from shore when they went from the ship. 



THE BUCCANEERS OE AMERICA. 257 

The next day, by. a clear observation, we found latitude 20° 
40' S. At four in the afternoon returned one of our canoes, 
bringing word that they could not find the island, though they 
had searched for it very diligently. At night came the other, 
being brought back by a wrong sign given us by the first canoe. 
This second canoe had landed upon the continent, and there 
found a track, in which they followed for some space. Here 
we found a dead whale, with whose bones the Spaniards had 
built a hut, and set up a cross. There lay also many pieces 
of broken jars. They observed likewise, that hereabouts, upon 
the coasts, are many bays, good landing, and anchoring for 
ships. That evening, about seven o'clock, a fresh gang went 
from the ship to seek the same island: meanwhile we lay be- 
calmed all night, driving about a league to leeward. 

Wednesday, January 26th. We had extreme hot weather. 
This day the Spanish pilot told us, that on the continent over 
against us, a very little way within the land, are very rich 
mines of silver ; but that the Spaniards dared not open them, 
for fear of an invasion from the enemy. We sailed north, at 
the distance of about two leagues from shore. At noon, we 
had an observation, and found latitude 20° 21' S. At four 
o'clock we saw a smoke made by our men, close by a white 
cliff, which proved to be the island. Hereupon, we immediate- 
ly sent away another canoe with more men, to supply them 
in their attempts. But in the mean while the first canoe, 
which left us in the evening before, came aboard, bringing 
with them four prisoners, two old white men, and two Indians. 

The other canoe, which set out last, brought back molasses, 
fish, and two jars of wine. To windward of the said island 
is a small village of eighteen or twenty houses, having a small 
chapel near it, built of stone, and for ornament sake, it is stuck 
full of hides, or skins of seals. They found about fifty people 
in this hamlet, but the greatest part of them made their escape 
at the arrival of the canoe. To this island barks frequently 
come from Arica (which is but at a little distance) to fetch clay, 
of which they have already carried away a considerable quan- 
tity.- The poor Indians, natives of this island, are forced to 
bring all the fresh water they nse full eleven leagues from 
thence, that is, from a river named Camarones, to leeward of 
the island. The bark wherein they used to bring it was then 
gone for water, when our men landed upon the place. The 
surface of this island is all over white^ but the bowels are of 
a reddish sort of earth. From the shore is seen a great path 
leading over the mountains into the country. The Indians of 
this island love to eat a sort of leaves that are in taste much 
22* 



258 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

like our bay leaves in England, insomuch that their teeth are 
dyed of a green color, by the continual use thereof. The in- 
habitants go stark naked, and are a very robust and strong peo- 
ple ; notwithstanding, they live more like beasts than men. 

Thursday, January 27th. This morning, on board the ship, 
we examined one of the old men who were taken prisoners 
upon the island the day before. But finding him in many lies, 
as we thought, concerning Arica, our commander ordered him 
to be shot to death, which was accordingly done. Our old 
commander, Captain Sharp, was much troubled in his mind, and 
dissatisfied at this cruelty and rash proceeding ; whereupon he 
opposed it as much as he could. But seeing he could not pre- 
vail, he took water and washed his hands, saying, " Gentlemen, 
I am clear of the blood of this old man ; and I Avill warrant 
you a hot day for this piece of cruelty, whenever we come to 
fight at Arica." Which fell out accordingly, as you will see 
hereafter. 

The other old man being under examination, informed us, 
that the Island of Yqueque before mentioned belonging to the 
governor of Arica, who was proprietor thereof; and that he al- 
lowed these men a little wine, and other necessaries, to live 
upon for their sustenance. That he himself had the superintend- 
ence of forty or fifty of the governor's slaves, who caught fish 
and dried it, for the profit of the said governor; and he sold it 
afterwards to the inland towns, and reaped a considerable bene- 
fit thereby. That by a letter received from Arica, eight days 
ago, they understood there was then in the harbor of Arica 
three ships from Chili, and one bark. That they had raised 
there a fortification, mounted with twelve copper guns. But 
that, when we were there before, they had conveyed out of the 
town to the neighboring stations all their plate, gold, and jew- 
els, burying it in the ground, and otherwise concealing it ; 
which whether it were now brought again or not, he could not 
tell. That there were two great places, the one at ten, the 
other at twenty-five leagues distance from Arica, where lay all 
their strength and treasure. That the day before had passed 
a post to declare our having been at Coquimbo. That the em- 
bargo laid on all vessels going to the northward was now taken 
off, so that a free passage was allowed them. That by land it 
was impossible to go from hence to Arica in less than four or 
five days, forasmuch as they must carry water for themselves 
and horses for the whole journey. Lastly, that those arms that 
we're brought from Lima to Arica, as was mentioned above, 
were now carried from thence to Buenos Ayres. All these 
things pleased us mighty well. But, however, Captain Sharp 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.. 259 

was still much dissatisfied at our shooting the old man ; for 
he had given us a very true information, namely, that Arica 
was very well fortified, and much better than before, but our 
misfortune was, that we looked upon his information as a 
trick only. 

The leaves, of which we made mention above, are brought 
down to this island in whole bales, and then distributed to the 
Indians, by a short allowance given to each man. This day 
we had very hot weather, and a S. W. sea. By observation, 
we found latitude 20° 13' S. Besides the things above men- 
tioned, our prisoners informed us, that at Arica the Spaniards 
had built a breastwork round about the town, and one also in 
every street, that in case one end of it were taken they might 
be able to defend the other. We stood off and in for the great- 
est part of the day. In. the afternoon we were eight leagues 
and a half from shore, with a fresh wind. That morning we 
took the bark that was at the river of Camarones, to fill water 
for the island. 

Friday, January 28th. Last night, about midnight, we left 
the ship and put ourselves aboard the bark before mentioned, 
the launch, and four canoes, with design to take Arica by sur- 
prisal. We rowed and sailed all night, making in for the 
shore. 

Saturday, January 29th. About break of day we got under 
shore, and there hid ourselves among the rocks all day, fearing 
lest we should be descried by the enemy before we came to 
Arica. At this time we were about five leagues to southward 
of it, near Gtuebrada de San Vitor. Night being come, we 
rowed away from thence. 

Sunday, January 30th, 1680. This day, (sacred to the 
memory of King Charles the martyr,) in the mprning, about 
sunrise, we landed amongst some rocks, at the distance of four 
miles or thereabout, to the southward from Arica. We put on 
shore in all ninety-two men, the rest remaining in- the boats, 
to keep and defend them from being surprised by the enemy, 
to the intent we might leave behind us a safe retreat, in case 
of necessity. With these men we left strict orders, that if we 
made one smoke from the town or adjoining fields, they should 
come after us towards the harbor of Arica with one canoe; but 
in case we made two, that they should bring all away, leaving 
only fifteen men in the boats. As we marched from our land- 
ing-place towards the town, we mounted a very steep hill, and 
saw from thence no men, nor forces of the enemy, which 
caused us to hope we were not as yet descried, and that we 
should wholly surprise them. But when we were come about 



260 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

half way to the town, we spied three horsemen, who mounted 
the lookout hill, and seeing us upon our march, they rode 
down full speed to the city, to give notice of our approach. 
Our commander, Watling, chose out forty of our number to 
attack the fort, and sent us away first thitherwards, the rest 
being designed for the town. We that were appointed for the 
fort, had ten hand grenadoes amongst us when we gave the 
assault, and with them, as well as with our other arms, we 
attacked the castle and exchanged several shots with our 
enemies. But at last, seeing our main body in danger of being 
overborne with the number of our enemies, we gave over that 
attempt on the fort, and ran down in all haste to the valley, to 
help and assist them in the fight. Here the battle was very 
desperate, and they killed three, and wounded two more of 
our men from their outworks, before we could gain upon them. 
But our rage increasing with our wounds, we still advanced, 
and at last beat the enemy out of all, and filled every street in 
the city with dead bodies. The enemy made several retreats 
to several places, from one breastwork to another, and we had 
not a sufficient number of men wherewithal to man all places 
taken ; insomuch, that we had no sooner beat them out of one 
place, but they came another way and manned it again with 
new forces and fresh men. 

We took in every place where we vanquished the enem}' a 
great number of prisoners, more indeed than peradventure we 
ought to have done, or knew well what to do withal ; they 
being too many for such a small body as ours was to manage. 
These prisoners informed us that we had been descried no less 
than three days before, from the Island of Yqueque, whereby 
they were in expectation of our arrival every hour, knowing 
we had still a design to make a second attempt upon that 
place. That into the city were come four hundred soldiers 
from Lima, the which, besides their own, had brought seven 
hundred arms for the use of the country people, and that in 
the town they had six hundred armed men, and in the fort 
three hundred. 

Being now in possession of the city, or the greatest part 
thereof, we sent^to the fort, commanding them to surrender; but 
they would not send us any -answer. Hereupon we advanced 
towards it, and gave it a second attack, wherein we persisted 
very vigorously for a long time. Being not able to carry it, 
we got upon the top of a house that stood near it, and from 
thence fired down into the fort, killing many of their men, and 
wounding them at our ease and pleasure. But while we were 
busied in this attack, the rest of the enemy's forces had taken 



THE BUCCANEERS OE AMERICA. 261 

again several posts of the town, and began to surround us in 
great numbers, with design to cut us off. Hereupon we were 
constrained to desist the second. time, as before, from assaulting 
the fort, and make head against them. This we had no sooner 
done, but their numbers and vigor increasing every moment, 
we found ourselves to be overpowered, and consequently we 
thought it convenient to retreat to the place where our wounded 
men were, under the hands of our surgeons, that is to say, our 
hospital. At this time our new commander, Captain Watling, 
both our quarter-masters, and a great many more of our men, 
were killed, besides those that were wounded and disabled 
from fighting. So that now trie enemy rallying against us, 
and beating us from place to place, we were in a very distracted 
condition, and in more likelihood to perish every man, than 
escape the bloodiness of that day. Now Ave found the words 
of Captain Sharp true, being all very sensible that we had a 
day too hot for us, after that cruel heat, in killing and murder- 
ing in cold blood the old Mestiso Indian whom we had taken 
prisoner at Yqueque, as we mentioned before. 

Being surrounded with difficulties on all sides, and in great 
disorder, having nobody to give orders what was to be done, 
we were glad to have, our eyes upon our good old commander, 
Captain Bartholomew Sharp, and beg of him very earnestly to 
commiserate our condition, and carry us off. It was a great 
while before he would take any notice of our request, so much 
was he displeased with the former mutiny of our people against 
him, all which had been occasioned by the instigation of Mr. 
Cook. But Sharp is a man of an undaunted courage, and 
excellent conduct, not fearing the least to look an insulting 
enemy in the face, and a person that knows both the theory 
and practice of navigation as well as most do. Hereupon, at 
our earnest request and petition, he took upon him the com- 
mand in chief again, and began to distribute his orders for our 
safety. He would have brought off our surgeons, but they 
having been drinking while we assaulted the fort, would not 
come with us when they were called. They killed and took 
of our number twenty-eight men, besides eighteen that we 
brought off, who were desperately wounded. At this time we 
were all extreme faint for want of water and victuals, whereof . 
we had none all that day ; we were likewise almost choked 
with the dust of the town, being so much raised by the work 
that their guns had made, that we could scarce see each other, 
They beat us out of the town, and then, followed us into 
the savannas, or open fields, still charging as fast as they 
could. But when they saw that we rallied again, resolved tq 



262 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

die one by another, they ran from us into the town, and shel- 
tered themselves under their breastworks. Thus we retreated 
in as good order as we possibly could observe in that confu- 
sion. But their horsemen followed us as we retired, and fired 
at us all the way, though they would not come within the 
reach of our guns ; for theirs reached farther than ours, and 
out-shot us above one third. We took the sea side for out 
greater security, which when the enemy saw, they betook 
themselves to the hills, rolling down great stones and whole 
rocks to destroy us. Meanwhile those of the town examined 
our surgeons, and other men whom they had made prisoners. 
These gave them our signs that we had left to our boats that 
were behind us, so that they immediately blew up two fires 
which were perceived by the canoes. This was the greatest 
of our dangers ; for had we not come at that instant that we 
did to the sea-side, our boats had been gone, they being 
already under sail, and we had inevitably perished every 
man. Thus we put off from the shore, and got on board 
about ten at night, having been involved in a bloody fight 
with the enemy all that day. 



CHAPTER. XLI. 

A Description of the Bay of Arica. — They sail from hence to the Port of Guasco, 
where they get Provisions. — A Draught of the said Port. — They land again 
at Hilo to revenge the former Affronts, and took what they could find. 

Our attempt at Arica being over, January ult., we plied to 
and fro in the sight of the port to see if they would send out 
the three ships we had seen in the harbor, to fight us ; for upon 
them we hoped to revenge the defeat and disappointment we 
had received at the town the day before. But our expectations 
in this point also were frustrated, for not one of those vessels 
offered to stir. 

The houses of this town of Arica are not above eleven feet 
high, as being built of earth, and not of brick or timber. The 
town itself is four-square ; and at one corner stands the castle, 
which may easily be commanded, even with small arms, from 
the hill which lies close to it. This place is the embarcadero, or 
port-town of all the mineral towns that lie hereabouts, and 
hence is fetched all the plate that is carried to Lima, the head 
city of Peru. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 263 

On Tuesday, February 1st, we had a clear observation, and 
by it we found latitude 19° 6' S. This day we shared the old 
remains of our plate, taken in some of our former booties. Our 
shares amounted only to thirty-seven pieces of eight each man. 

N. B. Here I would have my reader to take notice, that from 
this day forwards I kept no constant diary or journal, as I had 
done before, at least for some considerable space of time, as 
you shall see hereafter ; my disease and sickness at sea being 
the occasion of intermitting what I had never failed to do in 
all the course of this voyage till now : only some few memo- 
randums, as my weakness gave leave, I now and then committed 
to paper, the which I shall give you as I find, them, towards a 
continuance of this history. Thus: — 

Monday, February 14th. This night between eleven and 
twelve o'clock, William Cook died on board our ship, who was 
servant to Captain Edmund Cook, of whom mention hath been 
made in this journal. He desisted not, even at his last, to 
accuse his master of buggering him, as before was related : 
moreover, that his master should say, it was no sin to steal 
from us, who thought it none to rob the Spaniards. 

February 16th, 1680. This day we found ourselves in lati- 
tude 27° 30' S. We had a constant breeze at S. E. and S. S. E. 
till we got about two hundred leagues from land : then at the 
eclipse of the moon, we had a calm for two or three days, and 
then a breeze at north for two days ; after which we had a 
calm again for two or three days more. 

March 1st, we found latitude by observation 34° V S. At 
this time begins the dirty weather in these seas. We lay 
under a pair of courses, the wind being at S. E. and E. S. E., 
with a very great sea at S. S. E. 

March 3d, all hands were called up, and a council held ; 
wherein, considering it was now dirty weather, and late in the 
year, we bore up the helm, and resolved to go to the main for 
water, and thence to leeward, and so march over land towards 
home, or at least to the North Sea. But God diverted us from 
following this resolution, as you shall hear hereafter. We 
being thus determined that day, we stood N. E., with a strong 
wind at S. E. and E. S. E. 

March 5th, died our Coquimbo Indian. The seventh we 
had a west wind, our course being E. by N. The eighth ot 
the said month we were put to an allowance, having only one 
cake of bread a day. 

March 10th, we had a strong south wind. 

March 12th, we fell in with the main land, something to 
leeward of Coquimbo. Within the Island of Paxaras are double 



264 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

lands, in whose valleys are fires for melting of copper, with which 
metal these hills abound. Off to sea-board is a reeky land, 
and within, sandy. About the distance of eight leagues to 
leeward is a rocky point, with several keys or rocks about it. 
About half a mile to leeward of this point turns in the port of 
Guasco ; right against the anchoring are three rocks, close 
under the shore. 

Being arrived here, we landed threescore men of our com- 
pany, with" design to get provisions, or any thing we could 
purchase. The people of the country ran all away as soon as 
they saw us. There was building on the shore, in this port, a 
fire bark, of sixteen or eighteen tons burthen, with a cock-boat 
belonging to it. We took one Indian prisoner, and with him 
went up the space of six or seven miles into the country, to an 
[ndian town of three or fourscore houses ; from thence we 
came back to the church, which is about four miles from the 
sea-side, and lodged there all night. Here are multitudes of 
good sheep and goats in the country adjoining to this port, and 
it is watered with an excellent fresh water river ; but the 
getting of water is very difficult, the banks being very high, 
or otherwise inaccessible. However, we made a shift to get in 
five hundred jars of water ; furthermore, we brought away 
one hundred and twenty sheep, and fourscore goats, with which 
stock we victualled our vessel for a while. As for oxen, they 
had driven them away farther up into the country. The juris- 
diction of Guasco itself is governed by a teniente or deputy 
governor, and a friar, and is in subjection to the city of La Serena 
above mentioned, as having a dependence thereon. Here grows 
both corn, pease, beans, and several other sorts of grain ; and 
for fruits, this place is not inferior to Coquimbo. Here we 
found likewise a mill to grind corn, and about two hundred 
bushels thereof ready ground ; the which we conveyed on 
board our ship. Every house of any account hath branches 
of water running through their yards or courts. The inhab- 
itants had hid their wine, and the best of their goods, as plate and 
jewels, having descried us at sea before our landing; so that 
our booty here, besides provisions, was inconsiderable. How- 
ever, we caught some few fowls, and eat five or six sheep, and 
likewise a great hog, which tasted very like our English pork. 
The hills are all barren, so that the country that beareth fruit 
is only an excellent valley, being four times as broad as that 
of Hilo above mentioned. These people of Guasco serve the 
town of Coquimbo with many sorts of provisions. We gave 
the Indian whom we had taken his liberty, and I took the 
port of Guasco thus. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 265 

Tuesday, March 15th, 1680. This morning we departed 
from the port of Guasco, afore mentioned, with very little wind, 
having done nothing considerable there, except only the taking 
in the few provisions above related. We were bent therefore 
to seek greater matters, having met with ill success in most of 
our attempts hitherto. "We had now very dark weather al. 
along the coast. 

March 21st, we were west from the Bay of Mexellones. The 
point of this bay, one league upwards, represents a sugar-loaf 
exactly. 

March 22d. This day our boats and canoes went from the 
ship, being well manned, to find the River Loa. They went 
also about two leagues to leeward of it, to a fishing village, 
but could find no place fit for landing; whereupon they returned 
without doing any thing. The next d&y another canoe of our 
company went out upon the same exploit, but found the same 
success. Notwithstanding, here Sir Francis Drake watered, 
and built a church, as we were told by our pilot. This church 
is now standing on the sea-side by the river, whose mouth is 
now dry. There are several huts to the windward of it ; and 
from the said church or chapel goes a great path up the hills, 
which lead to Pica. 

Thursday, March 24th, we found latitude by observation, 
20° 10' S. This day also we saw land, at about eighteen 
leagues distance. 

Sunday, March 27th, we saw Mora de Sama and La Cumba 
at some distance. The same day we had an observation, and 
found it latitude 18° 17 / S. That evening we parted from the 
ship with our boats and canoes, towards the coast of Hilo, upon 
which we now were : we landed and took the village of Hilo 
undescried, they scarce suspecting we could have any design 
upon that place a second time. We caught the friar who was 
chaplain to the town and most of the inhabitants asleep, mak- 
ing them prisoners of war. Here we heard a flying report, as 
if five thousand English had taken Panama a second time, and 
were in possession of it. But this rumor proved to be a falsity, 
as it then seemed. At this time the river came out, and was 
overflown, it being near the time of the freshets. Here the 
prisoners told us, that in Arica ten of our men were still alive, 
whereof three were surgeons, all the rest being dead of their 
wounds. The Spaniards sent word to Hilo that we had killed 
them seventy men, and wounded three times as many of their 
forces. But here the inhabitants said, that of forty-five men 
sent to the relief of Arica from hence, there came home only 
two alive. We filled what water we pleased here*, but a small 
23 



266 THE BUCCANEERS OF AJIEItlCA. 

boat that we brought from Guasco broke loose from ns, and 
was staved to pieces on the rocks. Here we took eighteen 
jars of wine, and good store of new figs. On Tuesday 
following we went up to the sugar-work, mentioned in our 
former expedition against Hilo, and found all the fruits just 
ripe and fit for eating. There we loaded seven mules down- 
wards with molasses and sugar. The inhabitants told us 
further, that those men who came to fight us when we were 
here the first time, were most of them boys, and had only fifty" 
firearms amongst them ; they being commanded by an English, 
gentleman who is married at Arequipa. Likewise that the 
owner of the sugar-works afore mentioned was now engaged 
in a suit of law against the town of Hilo, pretending it wns 
not the English who robbed him, and spoiled his Ingenio, 
when we were there before, but the townsmen themselves. 
This day in the evening we sailed for Hilo, with dark weather 
and little wind, which continued for several days afterwards. 



CHAPTER XLII. 

They depart from the Port of Hilp to the Gulf of Nicoya. where they take 
down their Decks, and mend the Sailing of their Ship. — Forty-seven of their 
Companions leave them, and go home overland. — A Description of the 
Gulf of Nicoya. — They take two Barks and some Prisoners there. — Several 
other Remarks belonging to this Voyage. 

From the time that we set sail from tne port of Hilo. till 
Sunday, April 10th, 16S1, nothing happened to us that might 
be accounted remarkable ; neither did I take any notes all this 
while, .by reason of my indisposition afore mentioned. This 
day we could hear distinctly the breaking of the seas upon the 
shore, but could see no land, the weather being extremely dark 
and hazy. Notwithstanding, about noon it cleared up, and we 
found ourselves to be in the bay called De Malabrigo. The 
land in this bay runs due east and west. By an observation 
made we found this day 6° 35' S. We saw from hence the 
leeward Island of Lobos, or Seals, bung nothing but a rocky, 
scraggy place. On the S. W. side tiiereof is a red hill, much 
frequented by the Indian fishermen. It is situate in latitude 
6° 15' S. This day, likewise, in the evening, we saw the point 
called Aguja. 

On Saturday, April 16th, we came within a league distance 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 267 

of the west end of the Island of Plate, above described. The 
next dav, being Sunday, April 17, 1681, our mutineers broke 
out again into an open dissention, they having been much dis- 
satisfied all along this voyage, but more especially since our 
unfortunate fight at Arica, and never entirely reconciled to us 
since they chose Captain Watling, and deposed Sharp, at the 
Isle of Juan Fernandez, as was related above. Nothing now 
could appease them, nor serve their turn, but a separation from 
the rest of the company, and leaving us. Hereupon, this day 
they left the ship, to the number of forty-seven men, all in 
company together, with design to go overland, by the same 
way they came into those seas. The rest, who remained be- 
hind, did fully resolve, and faithfully promise to each other, 
that they would stick close together. They took five slaves 
in their company, to guide and do them other service in that 
journey. This day we had 1° 30' southern latitude. We sailed 
N. N. W. before the wind. 

Next day after their departure, April IStk,. we began to work 
about taking down one of our upper decks, thereby to cause 
our ship still to mend her sailing. We now made a N. W. by 
N. way, and had latitude, by observation, 25° N., the wind 
being at S. W. 

April 19th, we made a N. W. by N. way. This day our ob- 
servation was latitude 2° 45' N. In the afternoon we had 
cloudy weather. The following day, likewise, we made 
the same way, and by it seventy miles, according to my 
reckoning. 

April 21st. In the morning we had some small showers of 
rain, and but little wind. We saw some turtle upon the sur- 
face of the water, and great quantity of fish. We caught 
twenty-six small dolphins. By a N. W. by N. way, we reck- 
oned this day forty miles. 

April 22d. This day we caught seven large dolphins, and 
one bonito. We saw, likewise, whole multitudes of turtles 
swimming upon the water, and took five of them. We had 
an observation that gave us latitude 5° 28' N. Hereabouts runs 
a great, strong current. This day we lowered the quarter deck 
of our ship, and made it even with the upper deck. 

Tiie day following we had but small wind, and yet great 
showers of rain. Hereupon every man saved water for him- 
self, and a great quantity was saved for the whole company. 
In the morning we caught eight bonitoes, and in the evening 
ten more. 

April 24th, we had both cloudy and rainy weather. By an 
observation we had latitude 7° 37 / N. Meridian difference was 



26S THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ninety-two leagues. This morning we caught forty bonitoes, 
and in the evening thirty more. In the afternoon we stood 
north, the wind being at S. W. by S. 

Monday, April 25th. All the night before we had large 
gusts of wind and rain. At break of day we were close in 
with land, which, upon examination, proved to be the Island of 
Cano. To westward thereof is very high land. About noon 
this day it cleared up, and we had latitude 8° 34' N. In the 
evening we sent a canoe to search the island. In it they found 
good water and even ground, but withal an open road. At 
night we stood off the first watch, and the last we had a 
land wind. 

The day following, at daylight, we stood in, and about noon 
we came to an anchor at the east side of the island afore men- 
tioned, which is not above one league over. In the afternoon 
Ave removed from our former anchoring place, and anchored 
again within shot of the N. E. point of the island. All over 
this isle grow abundance of cocoa-trees. On the north side 
thereof are many rivulets of good water, to be found in sandy 
bay^i. We saw some good hogs on shore, whereof we killed 
one, and two pigs. Here are great numbers of turtle doves, 
and huge store of fish, but withal very shy to be caught. 

April 27th, we had some rain asd wind the fore part of the 
day, but the afternoon was fair. The next day, in like man- 
ner, we had great quantity of Vain. 

On Saturday, the 30th, about seven o'clock in the morning, 
we weighed from the aforesaid island with little wind, and 
stood N. W. That day fell much rain, with great thunder and 
lightning. 

Monday, May 2d. This day we observed, and found latitude 
9° N. The coast all along appeared to us very high and moun- 
tainous, and scarce six hours did pass but we had thunder, 
lightning, and rain. The like continued for the two days 
following. 

May 5th, we had an indifferent fair day, and at evening we 
were right off the Gulf of Nicoya. 

Friday, May 6th. This morning we saw the cape very plain 
before us. N. by E. from it are certain keys, at eight leagues 
distance, close under the main. We steered N. N. W. towards 
the biggest of them, at whose E. S. E. side are two or three 
small rocks. The main eastward is fine savanna, or plain and 
even land, through which goes a very great road, which is to 
be seen off at sea. At noon the port of Caldero, commonly 
called Puerto Caldero, bore north from us, at which time the 
ebb forced us to sound in the middle of the gulf, where we 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 269 

found fourteen fathom water. After this we anchored nearer 
the eastern keys, in the depth of nineteen fathom, where we 
had oozy ground. 

Saturday, May 7th. The night before was very fair all night 
long. In the morning we went in. a canoe, being several in 
company, to seek for a place to lay our ship in. Amongst the 
islands along the shore we found many brave holes, but little 
or no water in them, and therefore not for our purpose. On 
one of the said islands we found a hat, and many jars of water, 
by which we knew that people had lately been there. About 
eight in the evening our ship weighed anchor, at young flood ; 
and about three in the afternoon we anchored again in five 
fathom water. 

Sunday, May 8th, 1681. The night before we had much 
rain, with thunder and lightning. The morning being come, 
our commander, Captain Sharp, left the ship in two- canoes, 
with twenty-two men in his company, out of design to sur- 
prise any vessels or people they could meet hereabouts. Mean- 
while, in the evening, we drove up with the tide (there being 
no wind) in the ship, two or three' leagues higher, till we found 
but three fathom high water ; here we backed. astern. At this 
time we saw one of our canoes coming off from the island that 
was at head of us, (which was named Chira,) calling for more 
men and arms,- saying there were two sail of ships higher up 
the gulf. Hereupon, eight of us went with them ashore, 
whereof two joined the party afore mentioned, and the six re- 
maining were appointed to guard the prisoners they had taken: 
to these we showed ourselves very kind, as finding they were 
sensible of the cruelties of the Spaniards towards them and 
their whole nation. Here we found to the number of eight or 
nine houses, and a small chapel standing. These people have 
been, in former times, a considerable and great nation, but are 
now almost destroyed and extinguished by the Spaniards. We 
ascended a league up a creek of the sea, or thereabouts, and 
took by surprisal two barks, which were the two sail they 
had told us of before. One of these barks was the same we 
had taken before at Panama, of which I made mention at the 
beginning of this history. * 

The Monday following, we weighed anchor with our barks, 
and drove down the creek, with the tide at ebb, towards our ship. 
The prisoners we had taken here informed us, that when we 
were to westward in these seas before, there lay one hundred 
men at the port of Santa Maria. That our men, who left us 
at the Island Cayboa, as was mentioned above, met the other 
bark that we lost at sea, as we were sailing thither, and so went 
23* 



270 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

all overland together. That in the North seas, near Puerto 
Velo, they had taken a good ship, to be revenged of the Span- 
iards, who stop up the mouth of Santa Maria, with design to 
hinder others from passing that way. At night, our captain 
with twenty-four men, went from the ship into another creek, 
and there took several prisoners, among whom was a shipwright 
and his men, who were judged able to do us good service in 
the altering our ship, those carpenters being actually building 
two great ships for the Spaniards. Having taken these men, 
they made a float of timber, to bring down the tools and in- 
struments they were working withal : they also put several 
tools, and a considerable quantity of iron-work, into a doree, to 
be conveyed down the river, which sunk by the way, as being 
overladen with iron ; and one of our company, named John 
Alexander, a Scotchman, was unfortunately drowned in her. 

Thursday following, May 12th, we sent a canoe from the 
ship, and found the doree that was drowned : that evening 
likewise drove down the body of our drowned man afore men- 
tioned ; hereupon we took him up, and on Friday morning fol- 
lowing threw him overboard, giving him three French volleys 
for his customary ceremony; Both this day and the day before, 
we fetched water from a point near the houses, on the Island of 
Chira afore mentioned ; from the ship also we sent away a 
Spanish merchant, whom we had taken among the prisoners, 
to fetch a certain number of beeves, that might serve for a ran- 
som of the new bark taken here. This day the weather was 
fair, but on Sunday following it rained from morning till night. 

Monday, May 16th, we began to work all on our ship. 
Tuesday, an Indian boy, named Peter, ran away from us ; he 
belonged to Captain Sawkins, and waited upon him as a ser- 
vant. Wednesday, died an Indian slave, w r hose name was Sal- 
vador. Thursday, we heard thirty or forty guns fired on the 
main, which, made us think these would also turn to Hilo 
beeves. Friday, we caught cockles, which were as large as 
both our fists. At night there fell such dreadful rain, with 
thunder, lightning and wind, that, for the space of two hours, 
the air was as light as day ; the thunder not ceasing all the 
while. 

Saturday night, we had more thunder, lightning, and rain. 
Sunday we continued our work. 

Wednesday, May 25th. This day we finished our great 
piece of work, viz., the taking down the deck of our ship: be- 
sides which, the length of every mast was shortened, and all 
our work finished, insomuch that it would seem incredible, 
should I here give an account how much work we did in a fort- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 271 

night or less. The same day, likewise, we set at liberty our 
Spanish carpenters, who had been very serviceable to ns all 
this while, the old pilot, the old Spaniard taken at the Isle of 
Yqueqne, and several other of our Spanish prisoners and slaves. 
To these people, but chiefly to the Spanish carpenters, as re- 
ward of their good service, we gave the new bark, which we 
had taken at this place : but the old bark we thought fit to 
keep and sail her in our company, as we did, putting into her 
for this purpose six of our own men and two slaves. The 
next day, we fell down as low as Vanero, a place so called here- 
abouts, and would have sailed away again that very eveuing, 
but that our tackle gave way in hoisting our anchor, which 
made us lie still. In the Gulf of Nicoya, we had commonly a 
fresh breeze, and at night a land wind. 

Friday, May 27th. This day likewise we drove down with 
the tide as low as Cavallo, another place in the gulf. Here we 
staid and watered that day; and one Cannis Marcy, ou'r inter- 
preter, ran away from us. 

May 28th, in the morning, we sailed from thence, and came 
within twenty-nine leagues of that rich and rocky shore : yet, 
notwithstanding we had but seven fathom water here, I saw a 
white porpoise. Behind this island is a town called New Cape 
Blanco. At Puerto Caldero, above mentioned, is but one store- 
house. We came to an anchor in the depth of seven fathom 
water, at the distance of a league from shore, and caught five 
turtles. 

May 29th. This day we saw Cape Blanco. Both this day 
and the day following, we continued turning it out of the 
gulf against, a south wind. 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

They go from Nicoya to Golfo Dulce, where they careen their Vessel. — 
An Account of their Sailings along the Coast. — The Spaniards force the 
Indians of Darien to a Peace, by. a Stratagem, contrived in the Name of 
the English. 

Wednesday, June 1st, 1681. This clay we had very fair 
weather, yet but little wind ; hereupon the tide, or current, 
drove us to the westward of Cabo Blanco. Off of this cape, and 
at the distance of two miles within the sea, is situate a very 
bare kev. 



272 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

The coast here along rims N. W. half W., and grows lower 
and lower towards Cape Gnyones : this cape now mentioned 
at seven leagues distance, and at N. W. by N., at first sight ap- 
peared like two islands. The latter part of this day was cloudy, 
which hindered our prospect. 

June 2d. This morning we saw land, which appeared like 
several keys at N. W. by N., and at seven leagues distance : it 
was the land of Puerto de Velas> 

This evening our captain called us together, and asked our 
opinions of the course we should steer : having discussed the 
points by him proposed amongst us, we all resolved to bear up 
for Golfo Dulcc, and there to careen our vessels : this being 
done, we concluded to go from thence to the cape, and cruise 
thereabouts under the equinoctial. We observed this day 
that our bark, taken at the Gulf of Nicoya, sailed much better 
than our ship. 

Friday, June 3d. The night before was very fair, and we 
had a fresh wind, our course being W. and W. by N. In the 
evening we stood N. E., and descried laud at the distance of 
about twenty-four leagues from Cabo Blanco. 

Sunday, June 5th. Last night we lay by the greatest 
part thereof : this morning we saw the Island of Gano, above 
described, which bore E. S. E. from us. We saw multitudes 
of fish, but they would not bite ; also, water-snakes of divers 
colors. 

June 6th. All the night past we had rain, with little wind, 
scarce enough to carry us clear off from the island afore men- 
tioned. Towards morning we had a fresh wind at N. N. W. ; 
so we stood out S. till morning, and then we stood N. E. by E. 
The land runs, from Punta Mala to Golfo Dulce and Punta 
Borrica, E. S. E. half S. At nine leagues distance we laid the 
Island of Gano. 

The west end of Golfo Dulce is very high land, and a high 
rock lies close off it, besides which, two other rocks lie fur- 
ther out, the outermost of which is a mile distant from the 
shore. The east side is also high, but breaks into small points 
and bays, growing lower and lower to Punta Borrica. We 
came about a mile within the mouth of the gulf; then we an- 
chored in eight fathom and a half water. The mouth of the 
gulf is almost three leagues over. 

The next day, being June 7th, we weighed anchor again at 
young flood, and got about two leagues higher. At evening, 
we came again to an anchor, in the depth of seven fathom and 
a half water. It rained so hard this day, till eight o'clock, that 
the drops could not be distinguished one from another. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 273 

Wednesday, June 8th. At daybreak we weighed anchor 
again, with a fresh sea breeze ; the higher up we went, the 
deeper, we found the gulf, and at last no ground, even with 
thirty fathom line. This day we sent our canoe away to seek 
water, and a good place to lay our ship in. Having landed, 
we found one Indian and two boys, all which we made prison- 
ers, and brought aboard. We used them very kindly, giving 
them victuals and clothes, for they had nothing but the bark 
of a tree to cover their nakedness withal : being examined, 
they informed us that a Spanish priest had been amongst them, 
and had made peace with their nation, ordering them strictly not 
to come near any ship or vessel that had red colors ; for they 
were Englishmen, and would certainly kill them. Being asked 
where the priest was, they answered he was gone to a great 
Spanish town, four sleeps up in the country. After this, the 
Indian left the two boys, his children, with us, and went to 
fetch more Indians to us, from a plantain wall or grove, situate 
by a river about a league off. We came to an anchor in a bay 
close by one of the Indian keys, where two fresh rivers were 
within a stone's throw of each other, in twenty-seven fathom 
and a half water, and at a cable's length from the mark of low 
water. The Indians, whom our prisoner went to seek, came 
to us several times, selling us honey, plantains, and other ne- 
cessaries, that we usually bought of them, or trucked for with 
other things. We also made use of their bark logs in. tallow- 
ing our ship, in which case they did us good service. Their 
darts are headed with iron as sharp as any razor. 

Here one of the prisoners which we took at the Gulf of Ni- 
coya informed us by what means, or rather stratagem, of war, 
the Spaniards had forced a peace upon the Indians of the Prov- 
ince of Darien, since our departure from thence. The manner 
was as follows : A certain Frenchman, who ran from us, at 
the Island of Taboga, to the Spaniards, was sent by them in a 
ship to the river's mouth, which emptieth itself from that prov- 
ince into the South Sea. Being arrived there, he went ashore 
by himself in a canoe, and told the Indians, that the English, 
who had passed that way, were come back from their adven- 
tures in the South Sea. Withal, he asked them, if they would 
not be so kind and friendly to the Englishmen, as to come 
aboard and conduct them on shore. The poor deceived In- 
dians were very joyful to understand this good news ; and thus 
forty of the chiefest of them went on board the Spanish ves- 
sel, and were immediately carried prisoners of war to Panama. 
Here they were forced to conclude a peace, though upon terms 
very disadvantageous to them, before they could obtain their 
liberty. 



274 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

These poor and miserable Indians of Golfo Dulce would 
come every day in our company, and eat and drink very famil- 
iarly with us, all the time we were there. We laid our ship 
on ground, but the water did not ebb low enough to see her 
keel. While we were careening our vessel, we built a house 
upon the shore, both to lodge and eat in ; and every day we 
caught plenty of good fish. 

Sunday, June 12th. The work of careening our ship going 
on in due order, we came to cleanse our hold ; and here on a 
sudden both myself and several others were struck quite blind 
with the filth and nastiness of it ; yet soon after we recovered 
our sight again, without any other help than the benefit of tho 
fresh air. 

June 14th, we had a great and fierce tornado, with which 
our cable broke, and had it not then happened to be high water 
at that instant, we had been lost inevitably ; however, we had 
the good fortune to shore her up again, and by that means se- 
cure ourselves from further danger. 

June 21st, we weighed anchor again, and went a league 
higher than the former place. Here we watered, and in the 
mean while left men below, to cut wood. 

Thursday, June 23d. This day ran away from us two ne- 
groes : the name of one of them was Hernando, who was taken 
with Don Thomas de Argandona, upon the coast of Guay- 
aquil, as was mentioned above ; the other was named Silvester, 
taken at the town of Hilo ; following the example of those 
afore mentioned. 

. Monday, June 27th, that is, four days after, two more of our 
prisoners endeavored to make their escape, both of them slaves : 
one of these was named Francisco, who was a negro, and had 
been taken in the cocoa ship mentioned before ; the name of 
the other was also Francisco, an Indian born, taken at Panama. 
Their attempts to escape succeeded not, for we caught them 
both again, before they got on shore. 

Tuesday following, I went and sailed up and down the gulf,- 
in a little bark belonging to our ship, and viewed all the parts 
of Golfo Dulce. Our captain gave this gulf the name of King 
Charles's Harbor. 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 275 



CHAPTER XLIY. 

They depart from Grolfo Dulce, to go and cruise under the Equinoctial. — 
Here they take a rich Spanish Vessel, with thirty-seven thousand Pieces 
of Eight, besides Plate and other Goods. — They take also a Packet Boat 
bound from Panama to Lima. — Au Account of their Sailings, and the 
Coasts along. 

Our vessel being now careened, and all things in a readi- 
ness for our departure, Tuesday, June the 28th, in the after- 
noon, we weighed anchor to go to sea again, turning out to- 
wards the mouth of Golfo Dulce. Our design was to cruise 
under the equinoctial, as had been concluded upon before, 
thereby to get what purchase we could by sea, seeing the great- 
est part of our attempts upon land had proved hitherto very 
unsuccessful to us. 

Wednesday, June 29th. Both the night last past and this 
day we had rainy weather. About three in the afternoon a 
fresh gale sprung up at S. W. and S. S W., our course being 
S. E. and S. E. by S. At five this evening the gulf bore N. 
W. by W.j being seven leagues distant, and Punta Borrica three 
leagues and a half distant. 

Thursday, June 30th. All night past we enjoyed a fresh 
gale at S. S. W. We sailed in the bark where I was better 
than the man-of-war — for so we called the Trinity vessel — not- 
withstanding she was newly cleansed and tallowed. This day 
we had hazy weather, and I reckoned myself from Punta Bor- 
rica S. S. E. eighteen leagues and a half. 

July 1st, 1681. Last night we had two or three torna- 
does. I reckoned this day a S. S. E. way, and by a clear ob- 
servation, found latitude 6° 10' N. We saw great quantities of 
fish, as we sailed this day. 

July 2d, we made a S. E. way, and our reckoning was 64 
miles by it: by observation, I found latitude 5° 20' N. At 
noon the same day, we had a fresh gale at S. W., with some rain. 

July 3d, we had hazy weather. We made a S. S. E. by S. 
way, 37 miles. 

Monday, July 4th. The night past was windy, with rain, 
which forced us to hand our topsails. Our reckoning this day 
was a S. E. way, and a hundred miles. 

July 5th. We had a clear night the last past, and withal, a 
fresh gale ; by this we made a S. E. way. Our latitude this 
day gave us 2° 20' N. This morning we saw land southward 
of us, lying in low hammocks : it was the Point, of Manglares. 



276 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Wednesday, July 6th, we turned up along shore, and by 
observation took this day latitude 2° 2' N. Hereabouts every 
new moon is a windward current. In the evening we were 
close in with low land ; we had windy weather, and a great sea. 

Thursday, July 7th. This day, by observation taken, we 
found latitude 1° 48' N. In the evening we lost sight of the 
said ship. 

July the 8th, we saw the ship again, for loss whereof we be- 
gan to be in some doubt. This day we made very high land 
all along as we went, and the port, or rather bay, of San Mat- 
teo, or St. Matthews, appeared like several islands. 

Saturday, July 9th. This morning we stood fair in with 
the port of Tucames. Off of the highest part of the land there 
seems to be a key. 

This day at noon we had a clear observation, which gave us 
latitude 1° 22' N. 

Sunday, July 10th. Last night we stood off to sea, 
thereby to keep clear of the shore. This day's observation 
showed us latitude 1° 31' N. About noon the same day, we 
happened to espy a sail, which we immediately gave chase to. 
We bore up to the point of the compass, thereby to hinder her 
lasking away ; notwithstanding, in the evening we lost sight 
of her. However, our great ship got up with her, and about 
eight of the clock at night, made her a prize. She proved to 
be the ship named San Pedro, which we had taken the last 
year, being then bound from Truxillo to Panama,- and laden 
with wine, gunpowder, and pieces of eight, whereof mention 
was made before. We took her twice, in less than fourteen 
months. She had on board her now twenty-one thousand 
pieces of eight, in eight chests, and in bags sixteen thousand 
more, besides plate. 

Monday and Tuesday, the 11th and 12th of July, we made 
in for the shore. Our prize was so hard laden, that she seemed 
quite buried in the water. She had forty men on board her, 
besides some merchants and friars. On Tuesday, an observa- 
tion gave us latitude 1° 20' N. 

Wednesday, July 13th. This day we dared not adven- 
ture into the Bay of San Matteo, because we saw some Indians 
who had made a great fire on shore, which, as we judged, was 
designedly done to give intelligence of our arrival. Hereupon 
we bore away for the River of San Iago, about six leagues 
north-east from the bay before mentioned. Thursday, Friday, 
and Saturday following, we spent in taking out of our prize 
what parcels of cocoa-nuts we thought fit ; she being chiefly 
laden with that commodity. This being done, we cut down 



» THE BUCCANEERS OF AAIERICA. 277 

the mainmast by the board, and gave them only their' mainsail, 
and thus turning the ship loose, sent away in her all our old 
slaves for the good service they had done us, taking new ones 
from the prize, in their room. One only we still detained, who 
was Francisco the negro, that attempted to run away by swim- 
ming ashore. 

Sunday, July 17th. This day we went from the ship, 
and found the River of San Iago, before mentioned. At the 
mouth of this river we staid Monday and Tuesday following, to 
take in water, which we now much wanted. On the sides of 
the river we found good store of plantains. Our fresh water 
we fetched four miles up the river. We saw several Indians, 
but could not speak with them, they were so shy of us, being 
forewarned by the Spaniards not to come near us. 

Wednesday, July 20th, we shared our plunder, or rather, 
made part of the dividend of what we had taken, the rest be- 
ing reserved to another day. Our prisoners being examined, 
informed us that the Spaniards had taken up our anchors and 
cables, which we left behind us at the Isle of Juan Fer- 
nandez. Also, that they had surprised the Musquito Indian, 
that we left behind uS there on shore, by the light of a fire 
which he made in the night upon the isle. 

Tuesday, July 21st. All the four and twenty hours last past, 
we stood off and in. The next^day we shared the rest of our 
things taken in the prize, as also the money that was in the 
bags ; the rest we laid up to divide upon another occasion, 
especially when we were got through the Straits of Magellan. 
Our dividend amounted to the sum of two hundred and thirty- 
four pieces of eight a man. Our prisoners informed us this 
day that a new viceroy of Peru was arrived at Panama, and 
that he dared not adventure up to Lima in a ship of twenty- 
five guns, that was at Panama, for fear of meeting with us at 
sea, but had chosen rather to stay till the armada came down 
from Lima to conduct him thither. 

July 23d, we had a fresh breeze at S. W., and the next day 
a clear observation, which gave us only latitude 14/ N. This 
day we saw Cape St. Francisco, N. E. 

Monday, July 25th. This day we observed latitude 1° 20' 
S., and we had a S. W. wind. 

July 26th. This morning we had a very great dew fallen 
in the night last past. The weather in like manner was very 
close. 

On Wednesday, July 27th, we were at S. S. W. of Cape 
Passao, and at six leagues distance. 

The same morning, about seven of the clock, we spied a sail 
24 



278 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

E. S. S. from us, under shore. We presently gave her close 
chase, and about noon came up with her. But several of her 
crew got on shore and made their escape, viz., a friar, who 
was either a passenger or chaplain to the vessel, and five 
negroes. She proved to be a barco de aviso, or packet boat, 
that was going with letters from Panama to Lima. In this bark 
we took, among other prisoners, two white women, who were 
passengers to the same place. These and the rest of the pris- 
oners told us they had heard at Panama that we had all gone 
out of these seas homewards overland, and that made them 
adventure now up towards Lima; otherwise they had not come. 
This day and Thursday following we spent in rummaging the 
packet boat, in which we could find nothing of value, they 
having scarce brought any thing with them but the packet. 
They told us moreover, that the new viceroy of Peru, of whom 
we made mention above, was setting forth from Panama, under 
the conduct of three sail of ships — one of sixteen, another of 
eight, and a third of six guns ; that a general peace was all 
over Europe, except only that the English had wars with the 
Algerines by sea, and the Spaniards by laud. Having got 
what we could out of the prisoners and the vessel, we gave 
them their liberty and sent them away in the same bark, as 
being desirous not to encumber ourselves with more than we 
could well manage. That night we stood out to sea all night 
long, most of our men being fuddled. 



CHAPTER XLV 



They take another Spanish Ship, richly laden, under the Equinoctial. — They 
make several Dividends of their Booty among themselves. — They arrive at 
the Isle of Plate, where they are in Danger of being all massacred by their 
Slaves and Prisoners. — Their Departure from thence for the Port of Paita, 
•with Design to plunder the said Place. 

Next morning, after we had turned away the packet boat 
before mentioned, the weather being very close, we spied 
another sail creeping close under our lee. This vessel looked 
mighty big, so that we thought she had been one of their 
chiefest men-of-war, who was sent to surprise or destroy us. 
Notwithstanding, our brave commander, Captain Sharp, resolved 
to fight, and either take her, though never so big, or she us. 
In order thereto, coming nearer her, we easily perceived she 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 279 

was a merchant ship of great bulk, as most Spanish vessels 
are, and withal very deeply laden. Being up with them, they 
fired three or four guns at us first, thinking to make their party 
good against us ; but we answered them briskly with a continual 
volley of small arms, so that they soon ran down inlo the hold 
and surrendered, crying aloud for quarter. We killed in that 
volley their captain and one seaman, and also wounded their 
boatswain. The loss of their commander so daunted them, he 
being a man of good repute in those seas, that they surrendered 
immediately. Captain Sharp, with twelve more of our com- 
pany, entered her first. In this vessel I saw the beautifullest 
woman that ever I saw in the South Sea. The name of the 
captain of the vessel was Don Diego Lopez, and the ship was 
called El Santo Rosario, or the Holy Rosary. The men we 
found on board her were about forty. 

Having examined our prisoners, they informed us that the 
day before they set sail from El Callao (from which port they 
were going towards Panama) our men, whom they had taken 
prisoners at Arica, were brought into that place ; and that they 
had been very civilly entertained there by all sorts of people, 
but more especially by the women. That one of our surgeons, 
whom we suspected to be Mr. Bullock, was left behind, and 
remained still at Arica. 

We lay at anchor from Friday, July 29th, which was the 
day we took this prize, till Wednesday following, under Cape 
Passao, the place we anchored at before. Here we sunk the 
bark we had taken at th,e Gulf of Nicoya, being willing to make 
use of what rigging she had, and also to contract our number 
of men. In the mean while we took a great deal of plate out 
of the prize, and some money ready coined, besides six hundred 
and twenty jars of wine and brandy, and other things. Thus, 
leaving only the foremast standing in the vessel, we turned her 
away, as we had done the others before, together with all the 
prisoners in her, giving them their liberty, not being willing 
to be encumbered with them ; and withal, being desirous to 
spare our provisions as much as we could. We detained only 
one man, named "Francisco, who was a Biscanier, because he 
told us himself he was the best pilot in those seas. This being 
done, we shared all the plate and linen taken <»in her, and 
weighed from thence, standing S. S. E., with a fresh wind. 

Friday, August 4th. This day we shared the ready money 
taken in the Rosario, our last prize. Our dividend came tc 
ninety-four pieces of eight a man. We were now at N. E. ot 
Cape Passao, under which all these prizes were taken. 

The land runs S. E., and is, for five leagues together, to 
windward of this cape, all mountainous and high land. 



280 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Next day, being August 5th, we completed our dividends, 
sharing this day all our odd money ready coined, and plate, 
aiid some other things. 

Saturday, August 6th. This day, perusing some letters 
taken in the last prize, I understood by them that the Span- 
iards had taken prisoner one of the last party of our men that 
left us ; also, that they were forced to fight all their way over 
land as they went, both against the Spaniards and Indians ; 
these having made peace with the Spaniards since our departure, 
as was mentioned above ; that our Englishmen had killed, 
amongst other Spaniards, the brother of Captain Assientos, and 
Captain Alonso, an officer so named. Moreover, that ten sail 
of privateers were coming out of the North Sea, with intent to 
march over land into the South Sea, as we had done before, 
but that they were prevented, being forced back by the great 
rains that fell near the islands called Zemblas. 

August 7th. We had very fair weather, and notwithstanding, 
sometimes strong winds from shore, and a strong current to 
leeward. This ran so fierce against us the next day, August 
8th, that in four and twenty hours we lost three leagues. 

Tuesday, August 9th. We saw the port and town of Manta; 
being only sixteen or seventeen straggling houses, with a large 
and high brick church belonging to it. What we got in the 
day by the help of the wind, we lost in the night by the 
current. The same fortune we had the next day, for we still 
gained no way all this while. 

Thursday, August 11th. All the night past we had but little 
wind. This day we had a violent current to windward, as 
before, with some gusts of wind. However, by the help of 
these, we made shift to get to windward of the Isle of Plate. 

August 12th, in the morning, we came to anchor at the 
aforesaid isle. We sent our boat ashore with men, as we had 
done formerly, to kill goats, but we found them extremely shy 
to what they were the last year. Here it was that our quarter- 
master, James Chappel, and myself, fought a duel on shore. In 
the evening, our slaves agreed among themselves, and plotted 
to cut us all in pieces, when we were asleep, not giving quarter 
to any. They conceived this night afforded them the fittest 
opportunity., by reason we were all in drink. But they were 
discovered to our commander, by one of their own companions ; 
and one of them, named San Iago, whom we brought from 
Yqueque, leaped overboard ; who, notwithstanding, was shot in 
the water by our captain, and thus punished for his treason. 
The rest laid the fault on that slave, and so it passed, we being 
not willing to inquire any farther into the matter, having 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 2S1 

terrified them with the death of their companion. We lay at 
this i£le till Tuesday following, and in the interim gave our 
vessel a pair of hoots and tops, being very merry all the while 
with the wine and brandy we had taken in the prize. 

Tuesday, August 16th. In the afternoon, we weighed from 
thence with a S. W. wind. 

Wednesday, August 17th. We got east of the island this 
morning, two leagues and a half distance. 

All the day till next morning we had a leeward current, but 
then I could not perceive any. 

Thursday, August 18th. This evening we were to wind- 
ward of the Island of Solango. In the night before, we had a 
continual misty rain. At noon, the aforesaid island bore N. by 
E. of us, »at three leagues distance. 

About three leagues from Solango are two rocks, called Los 
Abercados. They appear both high and black. Besides this, 
N. N. E. from point St. Helena, is a high rock, which to wind- 
ward thereof runs shoaling for the space of half a mile under 
water. It is distant about eight leagues from the said point, 
and is called Chanduy. At this place, and upon this rock, was 
lost the ship afore mentioned, that was ordered from these seas 
to the aid of Charles I., king of England. This ship had on 
board, as the Spaniards relate, many millions of pieces of 
eight ; being sent as a present to him, he being then in his 
troubles, by the merchants of Lima. The rock afore mentioned 
lies about two leagues distant from the main. 

August 29th. This day our pilot told us, that since we 
were to windward, a certain ship that was coming from Lima, 
bound for Guayaquil, ran ashore on Santa Clara, losing there in 
money to the value of one hundred thousand pieces of eight ; 
which otherwise, peradventure, we might very fortunately have 
met withal. Moreover, that the viceroy of Peru had beheaded 
their great admiral, Ponce, for not coming to fight and destroy 
us, while we were at Gorgona. This evening we saw the Point 
Santa Helena ten leagues to S. S. E. from us. 

August 20th. This day we had both misty and cold weather. 
In the afternoon,, we saw La Punta de Santa Helena, at N. E. 
by N., and at about seven leagues distance. 

On Sunday, August 21st, we had a fair and clear day. I 
reckoned myself to be about twenty-five leagues to the south- 
ward of Santa Helena. 

August 22d. This morning* about two o'clock, we came 
close in with the shore. 'We found ourselves to be leeward of 
a certain point called Punta de Mero, which is only a barren, 
rocky point. Here runs an eddy current under the shore. 
24 * 



282 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Tuesday, August 23d. This day, in the morning, we had 
but little wind. At noon it blew fresh again. We made all 
day but short trips, and reefed topsails. 

Wednesday, August 24th. This morning a great dew fell. 
At noon we were west from Cape Blanco. We found by ob- 
servation latitude 4° 13' S. We resolved now to bear up to 
Paita, and taking it by surprisal, if possible, thereby to provide 
ourselves with many necessaries we wanted. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

They arrive at Paita, where they are disappointed of their Expectations, as not 
daring to land, seeing all the Country alarmed before them. — They bear away 
for the Straits of Magellan. — An Account of their Sailings towards the Straits 
afore mentioned. 

Thursday, August 25th. Wednesday night we stood off 
to sea for fear of the shore, lest we should be descried from the 
coast of Paita, which we were now pretty nigh. About noon 
this day we began to stand in again, and saw the homing of 
land, though with hazy weather. The next day, being Au- 
gust 26th, we had cold winds, great dews, and dry weather. 

Saturday, August 27th. All this day, especially in the 
morning, we had a great fog. In the afternoon, we saw La Silla 
de Paita at W. S. W. , being about five leagues from it. 

Sunday, August 28th. Last night, about ten, we were close 
in with land, at about half a league to leeward of'the Island of 
Lobos. We continued our course all that night, and about break 
of day found ourselves close under Pena Horadada, which is a 
high and steep rock. From this place we sailed with a land 
wind, and sent from the ship two canoes, well manned and 
armed, hoping we should take the town of Paita undescried. 
But it seems they had already got news of our coming, or be- 
ing upon that coast ; and supplies of forces were sent tbem 
from Pitura, twelve leagues up the country. These supplies 
consisted chiefly of three companies of horse and foot, all of 
them armed with fire-arms. Besides this, they had made, for 
the defence of the town, a breastwork along the sea-side, and 
the great church which lies at the outermost part of the town. 
From these places, as also from a hill that covers the town, 
they fired at our men, who were innocently rovvling towards 
shore with their canoes. This untimely firing was the preser- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 283 

vation of our people. For had the Spaniards permitted oar 
men to come ashore, they had assuredly destroyed them every 
man ; but fear always hindereth that nation of victory in most 
of our attempts. 

Oar men perceiving themselves discovered, and the enenrv 
prepared for their reception, retreated, and came aboard the ship 
again, without attempting to land, or do any thing else in rela- 
tion to the taking of the place. We judged there could be no 
less than one hundred and fifty fire-arms, and four times as 
many lances upon the shore, all in a readiness to hinder our 
people from landing. Within the town, our pilot told us, there 
might be about one hundred and fifty families. 

Being disappointed by our expectations at Paita, we stood 
down the bay towards Colan, three times as big as Paita. It 
is chiefly inhabited by fishermen, who send fish to most inland 
towns of Peru, and also serve Paita with water from the river 
Colan, not far from the town. It is about two leagues from 
the town of Paita, before mentioned, to Colan, and from thence 
to the river one league, although the houses of Colan reach 
almost to the river. The town of Colan is only inhabited by 
Indians, who are all rich, because they will be paid in ready 
money for every thing they do for the Spaniards. Bat the 
town of Paita is chiefly inhabited by Spaniards, though there 
be also some Indians; but the Spaniards do not suffer the In- 
dians to be any great gainers, or grow rich under them. 

About ten o'clock a small breeze sprung up, and with that 
we stood away west, and W. by S. In a little time it blew so 
fresh, that we were forced to reef our topsails, the weather 
being very dark and hazy. 

Monday, August 29th. All our hopes of doing any further 
good upon the coast of the South seas being now frustrated, 
seeing we were descried before our arrival wherever we came, 
we resolved unanimously to quit all other attempts, and bear 
away for the Straits of Magellan, in order to our return home- 
wards, either for England, or some of our plantations in the 
West Indies. This day we had a great dew, and I reckoned 
myself W. S. W. from Paita thirteen leagues and a half, with 
very little wind ; so we stood east. 

The next day, August 30th, we had misty weather. We 
made a W. S. W. way, and by it five leagues and one third. 
In the afternoon, the wind freshened again, having been but 
little before, and we stood E. S. E. 

The last day of August we had very fair weather. I be- 
lieve now that the wind was settled S. E, and S. S. E. We 
made a S. S. W. way, and twenty-one leagues and two thirds. 



284 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

September 1st. The night past was very cloudy, but withal 
we had a fresh gale. Our reckoning was a S. W. way, and 
that we had made sixteen leagues and two thirds. 

September 2d. We reckoned a S. W. way, and by it 
twenty-six leagues and two thirds. This day we had an ob- 
servation, and found latitude 7° 40' S. 

September 3d brought us both cloudy and misty weather. 
We made a W.. S. W. way, and fourteen leagues. 

September 4th. This day the wind was at E. S. E. and 
sometimes E., coming in many flaws. We had a S. W. by S. 
way, and reckoned twenty-three leagues and two thirds. We 
had a great sea from the south. 

Monday, September 5th. We had great winds, and a high 
and short sea. Our way was S. S. W. and half W., by which 
we reckoned twenty-eight leagues and two thirds of a league. 
♦ September 6th. We had a very fresh wind at S. E. by E., 
with an .indifferent smooth sea. By observation we found this 
day latitude 12° 0' S. We made a S. W. by S. way, and 
twenty leagues and one third. 

Wednesday, September 7th. We had a very fresh wind. 
We reckoned a S. W. by S. way, and thirty-six leagues. We 
observed latitude 13° 24' S. We make now each mess a plum- 
pudding of salt water and wine lees. 

September 8th. We had a fresh gale of wind, but hazy 
weather. Our reckoning was a S. W. by S. way, and hereby 
twenty-five leagues, and one third of a league. 

September 9th. We made a S. W. by S. way, and twenty- 
one leagues and a third. In the afternoon, the wind came about 
something more southerly, allowing us a S. W. course. 

Saturday, September 10th. All the night past and this 
morning the wind was very fresh at east. Our way was S. S. 
W. and by our reckoning thirty-five leagues and one third. 
The weather was now warm. An observation this day gave 
latitude 16° 40' S. 

September 11th. We had whiffling winds, a S. W. half S. 
way, and thereby twelve leagues and two thirds. By an ob- 
servation we made, we found 17° 10' S. Now we had a very 
great sea, so that vye took in our spritsail. 

September 12th. All the night before we were under a 
pair of courses : yet this morning we heaved out our main top- 
sail. We made a W. S. W. way, and seventeen leagues and 
one third. By observation we found latitude 17° 30' S. 

September 13th. The night past we had great and huge 
storms of wind. In the morning our goose-head gave way, so that 
about noon we were forced to lit bv till four in the afternoon, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 285 

to mend it. Our course was S. W. half W., and our reckoning 
twenty-nine leagues and two thirds of a league. Latitude by 
observation 18° 12' S. 

Wednesday, September 14th. This day we had very hazy 
weather. We made a S. S. W. way, and twenty leagues. 

September 15th. This day likewise we had a S. S. W. 
way, and reckoned twenty-three leagues and one half. Our 
observation, taken this day, gave us latitude 20° 9' S. 

September 16th. We had a clear day, a S. W. half S. way, 
and made sixteen leagues and two thirds. We found, by ob- 
servation, latitude 20° 48' S. 

September 17th, last night was very calm, also this day, 
being a full moon. We reckoned a S. W. way, and only (by 
reason of the calmness of the weather) nine leagues and one 
third of a league. We had an observation, which afforded us 
21° 8' S. latitude. 

Sunday, September 18th. Last night a wind sprung up at 
S. S. E., which this morning freshened at S. E. We made a 
W. S. W. way, and by it eighteen leagues. This day likewise 
we had a clear observation, that showed us latitude 21° 30' S. 

September 19th. All the night past, we had a very fresh 
wind ; but this morning it came about to E. by S. and E. S. E., 
with hazy weather. I reckoned a S. W. by S. way, and twen- 
ty-two leagues. 

September 20th. This day gave us a fresh wind, hazy 
weather, and a S. by W. way, and hereupon twenty-three leagues 
and one third. 

September 21st. This day also the fresh gale continued, 
with cloudy, and sometimes misty, weather. Our reckoning 
showed us a S. by W. way, as the day before, and by it twen- 
ty-eight leagues and one third.. By observation made, we found 
latitude 25° 15' S. 

Thursday, September 22d. This day we had a very fresh 
wind : we reckoned a S. half W. way, and by that twenty- 
nine leagues and two thkds. An observation taken, gave us 
latitude 26° 42' S. We observed this day a north-east sea, 
which was very strange to us.. 

The next day we had several showers of small rain. My 
reckoning was a S. by W. way, and thereupon twenty-six 
leagues. We found, by observation, latitude 27° 57' S. 

September 24th, we had hazy weather, and the wind not so 
fresh, at E. S. E., with a smooth sea. We made a S. S. W. way 
half westerly, and twenty-three leagues and two thirds. This 
day also an observation gave us latitude 28° 57' S. I reckoned 
now that we were distant from Paita three hundred and two 
•eagues and two thirds. 



286 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Sunday, September 25th. This day we had not much wind, 
and withal hazy weather. At noon the wind came E., then 
E. N. E., and then again N. E. by E. We reckoned a S. by 
E. way half easterly, and fifty-five leagues. 

Monday, 26th, we had hazy weather, and a fresh wind at 
N. E. We reckoned a S. E. half S. way, and twenty-four 
leagues. In the afternoon we experimented a N. N. E. sea, 
and then a N. N. E. wind : after this a N. wind, and that but 
a little. 

September 27th. All the night, before this day, we had a 
fresh wind at N. N. E. About eight this morning, it came about 
again to N. N. W. We made a S. E. by S. way, and thirty- 
eight leagues. By observation, I found latitude 32° 30' S. Now 
we enjoyed a very smooth sea, and fair weather. 

Wednesday, September 28th. The night past we had a very 
fresh wind at N. N. W. and N. W. At break of day we had a 

wind at , heaving us aback at once. At noon again, the 

wind was at S. W., our course being S. E. This morning'we 
took down our topgallant-masts. We made a S. E. by E. 
way, and on this road twenty-seven leagues and two thirds. 
We found by an observation made, latitude 33° 16' S. ; a S. 
W. sea. 

September 29th, we had very windy and hazy weather, with 
some rain now and then. All last night we handed our main 
topsail. We made a S. E. by E. way, and thirty-two leagues 
and two thirds. We had a S. W. sea and wind. 

Friday, September 30th. This day we had fresh winds be- 
tween S. W. and W. We reckoned a S. E. half south way, 
and thereupon forty-four leagues. By observation, we found 
latitude 35° 54' S. 

October 1st. The wind this day was not very fresh, but 
varying. My reckoning was a S. E. half S. way, and twen- 
ty-four leagues. An observation gave us latitude 36° 50' S. 
This day I finished another quadrant, being the third I finished 
in this voyage. We had a S. W. sea, with showers of rain 
and gusts of wind. 

Sunday, October 2d. The wind this day was hanging be- 
tween W. N. W. and N. W. by N. W^e made a S. E. by S. 
way, and thirty-three leagues and two thirds. By observation 
we found 38 3 14/ S. About noon we had a fresh wind at N. 
W. and S. W. 

October 3d. The last night in the fore part thereof was 
clear, but the latter was rainy ; the wind very fresh at N. W. 
by N. But this day we had little wind, and cloudy weather, 
a S. W. by W. wind, and a S. E. by S. way, by which we 
reckoned thirty-three leagues and one third of a league. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 2S7 

October 4th. We had a clear night, and a very fresh wind. 
We reckoned by a S. E. by E. way. and thereby forty-three 
leagues. An observation taken, showed us that we were in 
latitude 41° 34/ S. This day also fell several showers of rain. 

October 5th. We had a windy night the last past, and a 
clear day. We reckoned a S. S. E. half E. way, and forty-four 
leagues and two thirds. By an observation made, we found 
latitude 43° 26' S. The weather now was very windy, caus- 
ing a huge tempestuous sea. The wind at N. W. and N. W. 
by N., blowing very high. 

* October 6th. This day the wind was still at N. W., and yet 
not so fresh as it was yesterday ; the weather very foggy and 
misty : as for the wind, it came in gusts, so that we were forced 
to hand our topsails and spritsail. We reckoned a S. E. half 
S. way, and thereby forty-three leagues and one third of a 
league. The seas now were not so high as for some days 
pasi. In the evening we scudded away under our fore course. 

Friday, October 7th. Last night was very cloudy, and this 
day both dark and foggy weather, with small rain. We made 
a S. E. way, and thirty leagues and two thirds : a fresh wind 
at N. N. W. and N. W. We kept still under a fore course, not 
so much for the freshness of the wind, as the closeness of the 
weather. 

October 8th. We had a clear night the night past, and withal 
a strong gale, insomuch that this day we were forced to take 
in our foresail, and loosen our mizzen, which was soon blown 
to pieces. Our eldest seamen said, that they were never in the 
like storm of wind before ; the sea was all in a foam : in the 
evening it dulled a little. We made a S. E. half E. way, and 
eighteen leagues, with very dark weather. 

Sunday, October 9th. All the night past we had a furious 
W. N. W. wind. We set our sail a-drough, and so drove to 
the southward very much, and almost incredibly, if an obser- 
vation had not happened, which gave .us latitude 48° 15' S. 
We had a very stiff gale at W. N. W., with a great sea from 
W., which met with a S. S. W. sea as great as it. Now the 
weather was very cold, and we had one or two frosty mornings. 
Yesterday, in the afternoon, we had a very great storm of hail. 
At noon we bent another mizzen. 

Monday, October 10th. This day brought us a fresh wind 
at N. N. W. We made a S. E. half E. way, and by it forty- 
four leagues. By observation, we found latitude 49° 41' S. I 
reckoned myself now to be east of Paita, sixty-nine leagues 
and a half. 

Tuesday, October 11th. Last night we had a small time 



288 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. , 

calm. This day was both cloudy and rainy weather. The 
wind at S. W. and S. S. W., so furious, that at ten this morn- 
ing we scudded under a mainsail. At noon we lowered our 
fore-yard, while we sailed. We made a S. E. by E. way, and 
thirty leagues. 



CHAPTER XLYII. 

The Buccaneers arrive at a Place unknown to them, which they new-name the 
Duke of York's Islands. — A Description of the said Islands, and of the Gulf 
or Lagoon wherein they lie, so far as it was searched. — They remain there 
many Days by distress of Weather, not without great Danger of being lost. — 
An Account of some other Things remarkable that happened there. 

Wednesday, October 12th. All last night we had majiy 
high winds. I reckoned an E. S. E. way, and twenty leagues : 
for our vessel drove at a great rate. Moreover, that Ave were 
in latitude 50° 50' S ; so that our easting from Paita by my 
account ought to be one hundred and one leagues or there- 
abouts. 

This morning, about two hours before day, we happened by 
great accident to espy land. It was the great mercy of God, 
which had always attended us in this voyage, that saved us from 
perishing at this time ; for we were close ashore before we saw 
it. and our fore-yard, which we most needed on this occasion, 
was taken down. The land we had seen was very high and 
towering, and there appeared to be many islands scattered up 
and down. We steered in with what caution we could, be- 
tween them and the main, and at last arrived at a place, or 
rather bay, where we perceived ourselves to be land-locked, 
and, as we thought, pretty safe from the danger of those tem- 
pestuous seas. From hence we sent away our canoe to sound 
and search the fittest place for anchoring. At this time one 
of our men, named Henry Shergall, as he was going into our 
spritsail top, happened to fall into the water, and was drowned 
before he could have any help, though we endeavored it as 
much as we could. This accident several of our company did 
interpret as a bad omen of the place; which proved not so, 
through the providence of the Almighty, though we were not 
clear of dangers neither, as I shall relate. 

We came to an anchor in about forty fathom water, at a 
stone's cast only from shore. The water where we anchored 
was very smooth, and the high lands round about all covered 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



289 




290 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

with snow. Having considered the time of the year, and all 
other circumstances, we resolved that, in case we conld find a 
suficient stock of provisions here, we would stay the longer, 
that is, till the beginning of summer, or something longer, 
before we prosecuted our intended voyage homewards through 
the Straits of Magellan, which now we began to be careful 
how to find. That day we anchored in this bay we shot six 
or eight brave geese, besides some small fowl. Here we found 
many hundreds of muscle banks, all which were very plenti- 
fully stocked with that kind offish. We buried our dead man 
on the shore, giving him several volleys for his funeral rites, 
according to custom. At night our anchor came home, so that 
•we were forced to let go a grappling to secure ourselves. But 
still every flaw of wind drove us. Hereupon we set our sprit- 
sail, and ran above a mile into another bay, where we anchored 
again. The first anchor, which was the biggest in*our ship, 
we lost by this accident, the cable being cut by the rocks. 
These islands afore mentioned our captain new-named, his 
royal highness the Duke of York's Islands. 

Thursday, October 13th. This day we began to frioor our 
ship, she driving, as we easily could perceive, with every flaw 
of wind that blew. The tide flows here full .seven feet up 
and down. We moored our vessel in a rocky point, being a 
key, whereof there be many in the circumference of this bay. 
The ground of the bottom of the bay we found was hard and 
sandy, being here and there rocky. This evening we brought 
on board great store of lamperts, of which we made a kettle of 
broth, more than all our company could eat. 

Friday, October 14th, we killed several geese, as also many 
fowls like an eagle, but having a bigger beak, with their nos- 
trils rising from the top of the middle of their beak by a hand 
trunk: this fowl liveth on fish. . Yesterday, in the evening, 
fell a great fleet of snow on the hills around about the bay, but 
none where we were at anchor. This day in the evening we 
caught lamperts in great quantities, three times as many as we 
could eat. Our men, in ranging the key for game, found grass 
plaited above a fathom long, and a knot tied to the end thereof. 
On the other keys they found muscles and lampert shells. 
Hence we concluded these countries were inhabited, and that 
some Indians or others were to be found hereupon. 

Saturday, October 15th. The night past we had much rain, 
with large hailstones. About midnight the wind came to 
north with such great fury, that the tree to which our cabie 
was fastened on shore gave way, and come up by the roots. 
All those gusts of wind were mixed with violent storms of rain 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 291 

and hail. We fastened again to other trees ; but here it hap- 
pened that our ship coming up to the shore, our rudder touched, 
and broke our goose-neck. Great was now our danger, and 
greater it would have been, if it had not pleased God to send 
us better weather. Scarce a minute now passed without flaws 
of wind and rain. 

Sunday, October 16th. All night past was rainy, as before. 
About nine o'clock our biggest hawser gave way and broke. 
All this day likewise we had rain, with several showers of hail, 
and but little wind at N. W. 

Monday, October 17th. Last night, till, five this morning, 
it ceased not to rain; then till ten it snowed ; on the hills it 
snowed all the night long. This day we hunted on the shore 
many* tracks of people^but could find none, they having fled 
and concealed themselves for fear of us, as we supposed. 

October 18th. The night past we had much rain and hail ; 
but the day was very clear and pretty warm. Hereupon we 
made an observation, which gave us latitude 50° 40' S. 

October 19th. The night past was clear and frosty. This 
day was hazy, and something windy from the north quarter. 
Every day we had plenty of lamperts and muscles, of a very 
large size. 

October 20th. The night past was nainy, and this day great 
gusts of wind at N. N. W. till the afternoon. Then we had 
wind at N. W., being very fresh, and in gusts. 

October 21st. All the night past was tempestuous, with 
great gusts of wind and showers of hail. Yesterday in the 
evening we carried a cable ashore, and fastened it to a tree ; 
this being done, at midnight our biggest cable broke in the 
middle. Towards morning we had much snow ; in the day, 
great gusts of wind, with large hailstones. We caught great 
plenty of lamperts. 

October 22d. Last night we had strong gusts of wind from 
N. W.j together with much hail and rain. This day we killed 
a penguin, and began to carry water on board. 

October 23d.' For twenty-four hours past we had much 
rain ; the wind was but little at W. and W. S. W. 

October 24th. All this time till noon, nothing but rain. 
At that time it held up for half an hour, or thereabouts, and 
then it rained again all the rest of the day. 

October 25th. All this while we had not one minute fail. 
Towards evening it held up, but the weather was cloudy, and 
withal much warmer than when we came hither at first. 

Wednesday, October 26th. All night past, and this forenoon, 



292 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

we had fair weather, but after noon it rained again. We found 
cockles like those we have in England. 

Thursday, October 27th. Last night we had much rain, 
with very great gusts of wind all night. Notwithstanding, this 
day proved to be the fairest that we had had since we came 
into this place. In the evening, our canoe, which was gone 
to search the adjacent places for Indians, or what else they 
could find, returned to the ship with a doree at her stern. They 
had gone, as it should seem, beyond the old bay where we 
first anchored, and thereabouts happened to meet with this 
doree. In it were three Indians, who perceiving themselves 
nigh being taken, leaped overboard to make their escape. Our 
men in pursuing them did unadvisedly shoot one of them dead ; 
a second, being a woman, escaped their hands; but a third, 
who was a lusty boy about eighteen years of age, was taken, 
whom they brought on board the ship. He was covered only 
with a seal's skin, having no other clothing about him. His 
eyes were squinted, and his hair pretty short. In the middle 
of the doree they had a fire burning, either for dressing of 
victuals, or some other use. The doree itself was built sharp 
at both ends, and flat-bottomed. They had a net to catch 
penguins, and a club like our bandies, called by them a tom- 
ahunks. His language we could not understand, but withal 
he pointed up the lagoon, giving us to understand that there 
were more people thereabouts. This was confirmed by our 
men, who also said they had seen more. They had darts to 
throw against an enemy, pointed with wood. 

The next .day, being October 28th, in the evening our canoe 
went from the ship again to seek for' more Indians. They 
went into several lagoons, and searched them narrowly ; but 
they could find nothing but two or three huts, all the natives 
being fled Before our arrival. In the evening they returned to 
the ship, bringing with them very large lamperts, and muscles 
which were six inches and a half long. Our Indian prisoner 
could open these muscles with his fingers, which our men 
could not so readily do with their knives. Borh the night past 
and this day we had very fair weather. 

' October 29th, we had in like manner a very fair day, and also 
a very smooth wind at S. S. E. Our Indian this day pointed 
to us, that there were men in this country, or not far from 
hence, with great beards. He appeared to us by his actions to 
be very innocent and foolish ; but by his carriage I was alsc 
persuaded that he was a man-eater. This day likewise we 
caught lamperts enough to suffice us for the morrow. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 293 

Sunday, October 30th. This day was fair, and there blew 
a small S. S. E. wind. In the morning we sent a canoe over 
to the eastward shore, to seek either for provisions or Indians. 
I myself could not go, as I desired, being, with two or three 
more, at that time very much tormented with the gripes. I am 
persuaded this place is not so large ari island as described by 
some hydrographers, but rather a collection of smaller islands. 
We saw this day many penguins, but they were so shy, that 
we could not come near them : they pad on the water with 
their wings very fast, but their bodies are so heavy that they 
cannot fly. The sun had now made the weather very warm, 
insomuch that the snow melted apace. 

October 31st. Both last night and this day were very fair. 
At noon our canoe returned from the eastern shore, bringing 
word they had found several good bays and harbors, that were 
deep, even close to the shore ; only there were several rocks 
sunk in them, which we had also where we were : but these 
rocks are not dangerous to shipping, by reason they have 
weeds which lie two fathoms in circumference about them. 
This morning blew a small wind at N. N. E. 

November 1st. This day was also fair, and we had a small 
wind as before, at N. N. E. 

November 2d. Last night I took the polar distance of the 
south star of the cock's foot, and found it to be 28° 25'. I ob- 
served also the two Magellan clouds, of which I made mention 
in this journal before, and found them to be as followeth. viz. : 
the lesser 14° 5', and the greater 14° 25'. In the morning we 
hoisted on end our topmast, and brought too a main-topsail, 
and foresail, and finished our filling all the wafer wc needed. 
At the same time the wind hung easterly, and I was still 
troubled with the gripes as before. 

November 3d. This morning we hanged our rudder, the 
greatest piece of work we had to do, after those violent storms 
above mentioned. In the afternoon we hauled in our two big- 
gest hawsers, and also our biggest cable from the shore. For 
three days last. past, we had a very great and dark fog' between 
us and the eastward shore. We had now very little wind in 
the cove where we were, but abroad at sea there blew at the 
same time a stiff gale at S. S. E. We could perceive now, 
the stormy weather being blown over, much small fry of fish 
about the ship, whereof we could see none before. This eve- 
ning was very clear and calm. 

November 4th. Both last night and this day we had very 
calm weather ; only a small breeze in the morning sprung up 
at N. and N. N. E., which afterwards wheeled about to S. and 
25* 



294 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

S. S. E. This morning we hoisted our main and fore yards, 
and likewise fetched off from the shore our other hawser and 
cahle, into the depth of eleven fathom water. Our resolutions 
were now changed for a departure, in order to seek the mouth 
of the Straits of Magellan, seeing we could not winter here, 
for want of provisions, which we could not find either on the 
continent, or about these islands afore mentioned. The weather 
now was very warm, or rather, hot, and the birds sung as 
sweetly as those in England. We saw here both thrushes and 
blackbirds, and many other sorts of those that are usually seen 
in our own country. 

Saturday, November 5th. This morning brought us a wind 
at N. N. E. Hereupon we warped to a rocky point, thereby 
to get out of the cove where we lay : for our anchor came 
home to us, as we were carrying our warp out. At this time 
a second breeze came up very fresh in our stern, so that we 
took the opportunity thereof, and went away before it. By 
noon we hoisted in our canoes, and turned loose our Indian 
doree ; as for the Indian boy whom we had taken in the said 
doree, we kept him prisoner, and called him Orson. When we 
were come out into the channel, the weather grew quite calm ; 
only now and then we had a small breeze, sometimes from one 
quarter, and then from another. By this slackness of wind we 
observed, that the current hoisted us to the southward. On the 
east side of this lagoon, we perceived the Indians to make a 
great smoke, at our departure. 

We had a very fair day till six in the evening ; when we got 
without the mouth of the gulf, it blew so hard, that in an hour 
it forced us to"hand our topsails. Having now a fit gale at N. 
W. and N. N. W., we stood S. W. by W., to clear ourselves of 
some breaks, which lie four leagues from the gulfs mouth, at 
S. and S. S. E. Hereabouts we saw many reefs and rocks, 
which occasioned us to stand close hauled. 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 295 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 

Ihey depart from the English. Gulf in Quest of the Straits of Magellan, -which 
they cannot find. — They return Home, by an unknown Way. 

Sunday, November 6th. This morning we lost sight of land, 
so that we could see it no more. All the night past, and this 
day, we were under our two courses and spritsail ; the weather 
this day was hazy. My reckoning was a S. W. half S. way, 
and by it twenty-one leagues. We had now an indifferent 
high sea, and a fresh wind at N. N. W. 

November 7th. Last night was both rainy and foggy, but 
in the morning it cleared up. The wind for the most part was 
at W. and W. N. W., but at noon it came about at W. S. W. 
Our reckoning was a S. W. by S. way, and by it twenty leagues. 
We found, by observation, latitude 52 J 3'. We now steered 
away S. S. E., the wind being at that time at W. S. W. In 
the evening I found a variation of the needle to N. E., to the 
number of 15°, or better. I was still troubled with the gripes, 
as I had been before. 

November 8th. We had a fair night the last past. About 
midnight the wind came to N. N. W. This day early, at break 
of day, Ave all were persuaded that we had seen land ; but at 
noon we found our mistake, it being only a cloud. The wind 
was now at N. My reckoning was at S. E. half E. way, 
and thirty-two leagues and one third of a league. . We had an 
observation that gave us 53° 27' S. The whole day was very 
fine and warm, and we saw great numbers of fowls and seals. 

November 9th. Yesterday in the evening the weather was 
cloudy ; hereupon we lay by under a main course. After mid- 
night we sailed E. and E. by N., with a fresh wind at W. N. W., 
and not any great sea. The day itself was cloudy, and towards 
noon we had some rain ; so at two in the afternoon, we lay by 
under a main course, the wind being fresh at N. W. I reck- 
oned an E. N. E. way, and thereby twenty-eight leagues. 

Thursday, November 10th. All night past we lay under a 
main course, with a mere fret of wind at N. W. and Ni N. W. 
Day being come, the wind rather iucreased, insomuch that 
about noon our sail blew to pieces : hereupon we were forced 
to lower the yard and unbend the sail, lying for a little while 
under a mizzen ; but that also soon gave way, so that all the 
rest of this day we lay a hulk in very dark weather, foggy and 
windy, with a great sea, which sometimes rolled over us. In 



296 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

the afternoon it seemed to abate for some space of time, but 
soon after it blew worse than before, which compelled us to 
lower our fore yard. 

November 11th. All the night past we had furious, windy 
and tempestuous weather, from the points of N. W. and N. N. 
W., together with seas higher and higher. In the evening we 
set our mizzen,at which time the sun appeared very waterish ; 
but the wind now abated by degrees, and the seas also. 

November 12th. This morning little wind was stirring, only 
some rain fell. About ten it cleared up, and by an observation 
then made, we found latitude 55° 25'. The sea was now much 
fallen, and a fresh wind was sprung up at W. and W. S. W. We 
experimenied also a very great current to the S. W. In the 
afternoon we set our sails again, and resolved, unanimously, to 
make for the Straits of St. Vincent, otherwise called the Straits 
of Fernando de Magellan. We had a fresh wind at W. N. W., 
our course being S. S. E., under our spritsail, foresail, and fore- 
topsail. This day we saw many fishes, or rather fowls, who 
had heads like Muscovy ducks, as also two feet like them. 
They had two fins, like the fore fins of turtles, white breasts 
and bellies, their beaks and eyes being red. They are full of 
feathers on their bodies, and the hinder parts are like those of 
a seal, wherewith they cut the water. The Spaniards call 
these fowls paxaros ninos. They weigh most commonly 
about six or seven pounds, being about a foot long. Our com- 
mander, Captain Sharp, was so dexterous as to strike two of 
them. In the evening we set our mainsail, the wind now com- 
ing to W. and by S. 

Sunday, November 13th. All the night past, we had afresh 
wind between S. W. and W. N. W., with sometimes mists of 
small rain. In the evening we had a fine leading gale at W. 
N. W., together with clear and wholesome weather. We made 
a S. E. way, and by it forty-two leagues and two thirds. This 
day an observation gave us latitude 56° 55' S. We still found 
a great S. W. current. In the afternoon we steered E. S. E., 
and in the evening had whiffling winds. 

November 14th. Both last night and this morning, we had 
cloudy weather. About eight it cleared up. My reckoning 
was a S. E. by E. way, and by it thirty-two leagues. Out 
observation gave us latitude 57° 50' S. This day we could 
perceive land, and at noon were due west of it. In the evening 
we stood E. by S. 

November 15th. All the night past was very cloudy. We 
judged now that we should be close in with the land we had 
seen the day before ; but the morning .being come, we could 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 297 

see none. In the night much snow fell, and in the day we had 
great fleets thereof, the weather being very cold and cloudy. 
I reckoned an E. S. E. way, and hereby twenty-nine leagues 
and two thirds ; moreover, that our latitude was 58° 25' S. The 
wind was now so fresh at N. that we were forced to lie under 
our two courses and spritsail. 

November 16th. Most of this time we had still rain and 
snow, but now no night at all, though the weather was dark. 
The wind was various, but from midnight before it was at S. 
E. and S. S. E. We now lay E. N. E. I reckoned a N. E. by 
E. way, and twenty-three leagues. About four in the afternoon 
two of our fore-shroud bolts broke, but withal, were presently 
mended. This afternoon also we saw a very large whale. In 
the evening we handed in our fore-topsail, and lay under our 
pair of courses and spritsail, the evening being very clear. 

November 17th. In the night there was a very hard frost. 
At four this morning we saw two or three islands of ice, the dis- 
tance of two or three leagues southward of us. Soon after this 
we saw several others, the biggest of them being at least two 
leagues round. By an observation made this day, we found 
58° 23' S, We had. now a vehement current to the southward. 
At noon I saw many others of these islands of ice afore men- 
tioned, of which some were so long, that we could scarce see 
the end of them, and were extended about tenor twelve fathom 
above water. The weather in the mean while was very clear, 
and the wind cold. I found variation of the needle, 18° to the 
N. E. 

November 18th. All the night past was very fair ; (I must 
call it night, for otherwise it was not dark at all.) The sea 
was very smooth, and the wind at N. and N. N. W. I reckoned 
a N. E. by N. way, and By the same twenty-two leagues. At 
ten it fell quite calm, which held all the afternoon. But at 
night we had a wind again at N. and N. by E. 

November 19th. This day was cloudy, with snow, and a 
frosty night preceding it. The wind now was so fresh at north, 
that we were forced to take in our topsails, and lie all day un- 
der our courses and spritsail. We made, by an E. S. E. way, 
eighteen leagues and two thirds. 

November 20th. We, had a cloudy night the last past, to- 
gether with mizzling rain and snow. This morning fell so 
great a fog, that we could scarce see from stem to stern of our 
ship. From ten o'clock last night we had also a calm, and very 
cold weather; but what was worse than all this, we were kept 
to a very short allowance of our sorry victuals, our provisions 
growing very scanty with us. About ten this morning we ha,d 



298 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

a very small breeze at N. Several of our men were not able 
to endure the cold, it was so piercing : whereby they were 
forced to lie and keep themselves as close as they conld. We 
made an E. way, and by the same sixteen leagues. This day, 
at noon, I reckoned myself to be east from the gnlf, from 
whence we last parted, two hundred and five leagues, and two 
thirds of a league. 

Monday, November 21st. Last night we caught a small 
land-fowl, and saw two or three more. This sight gave us 
good hopes we were not far from some coast or other ; yet Ave 
could see none all this long and tedious voyage. In the night 
past we had a calm, and all this morning a great fog, with 
much snow and rain. We reckoned an E. by N. way, and ten 
leagues. At one in the afternoon, we had a fresh gale that 
sprang up at E. and at E. by N. 

November 22d. Most part of this day was calm. Mean- 
while we observed our ship drive east. My reckoning was an 
E. N. E. way, and thereby thirteen leagues and one third. At 
one in the afternoon we had a small gale at W. S. W., our course 
being N. N. E. and N. E. by N. 

November 23d. This day we had a gale at N. W., freshening 
by degrees, so that we were forced to take in our topsails and 
spritsail. The wind was not a settled gale, but often varied 
from point to point. At noon it came at N. E., and our course 
was then N. N. W. By a north way, we reckoned sixteen 
leagues. 

November 24th. Both the night past and this morning was 
foggy weather, with some calms between whiles; but at eight 
in the morning the sun broke out, yet it was not a clear day. 
By a N. N. E. way, we reckoned fifteen leagues. This morn- 
ing the wind came about to E., and at noon it was again at 
N. E. We had a clear evening, and a fresh gale. 

November 25th. All the night past we had a fresh wind at 
E. and E. N. E., insomuch that at eight in the morning we 
took in our topsails. But at noon the wind was not so fresh 
as before. I reckoned a N. N. W. half W. way, and by the 
same twenty leagues. 

November 26th. Last night the wind was not altogether so 
fresh as before, but this morning it was again very high. The 
weather was dark and cloudy, with sometimes rain and snow. 
We made a N. N. E. way, and hereby thirty leagues; the wind 
all along E. by S. and E. S. E. In the evening we had fair 
weather again. We found for the ten days last past a great 
western sea, and saw in the same time several seals. 

Sunday, November 27th. All the night past we enjoyed a 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 299 

fresh gale, and clear weather. I reckoned thirty-six leagues by 
a N. E. by N. way. By an observation made, we now found 
latitude 52° 48' S. And I judged myself to be east from the 
gulf, two hundred and eighty-five leagues. In the evening we 
had a very exact sight of the sun, and found above 30° varia- 
tion of the needle. From whence ought to be concluded, that 
it is very difficult to direct a course of navigation in these parts ; 
for in the space of only twenty-five leagues sailing, we have 
found 8 or 9° difference of variation, by a good Dutch azimuth 
compass. 

November 28th. All last night, we had a fresh wind at E. 
S. E. Towards morning we had but little wind, all the day 
being hazy weather. This day we saw a whole flight of such 
land-fowls as we killed one of before. This sight gave us fur- 
ther hopes we were not far from land, yet we found none in all 
this voyage. We made by a N. N. E. way, thirty-three leagues. 
Yesterday in the evening we set a new spritsail, and about 
three this morning we also set our mainsail. At one in the 
afternoon, the wind came about at N. E. and N. N. E. which 
in the evening blew very fresh, with cloudy weather. 

November 29th. The night proved very cloudy, and the 
wind blew very fresh at E. N. E. and N. E. by E. This morn- 
ing it was E., both with snow and hail. Towards noon the 
weather cleared up, and we found, by an observation taken, lati- 
tude 49° 45' S.- Our reckoning was a N. way, and thirty 
leagues. This day we had a short eastern sea, and withal a 
very cold evening. I took the sun, and hereby I found varia- 
tion 26° 30' to the N. E. This night the wind came about 
W. and W. N. W., continuing so all the night. 

November 30th. This day the wind was N. and N. N. E., 
with some clouds hovering in the sky. At this time we had 
already almost four hours of night. The morning of this day 
was very fair and clear. Hereupon, to give myself satisfaction 
in the point, as fearing the truth of Spanish books, I worked 
the true amplitude of the sun, and found his variation to be 26° 
25' to the N. E., being very conformable to what I had read and 
experienced before. Hereabouts also Ave found a current to 
the northward. This day also we saw much rock weed, which 
renewed our hopes once more of seeing land. We reckoned a 
N. E. way, and by the same twenty-two leagues. By an ob- 
servation made, we found latitude 48° 53' S. This day also 
we saw several of these fowl-fish afore described, called paxaros 
ninos and these of a larger size than any we had seen before. 
In the afternoon the wind came about at N. N. E., whereby we 
stood N. W. by W. with a fresh gale, and smooth water. The 



300 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

weather now began to grow warmer than hitherto, and the 
evening was clear. 

Tuesday, December 1st. The latter part of the night past 
was very cloudy, and sometimes rainy. About midnight we 
had a violent tornado, forcing us in a moment to hand in our 
topsails. At five in the morning we set them again, and at 
eleven we had another tornado, forcing us to hand our topsails 
a second time. We made a N. N. E. two thirds east way, and 
thereby thirteen leagues, and two thirds of a league. The af- 
ternoon of this stormy day proved very fair, and the wipd came 
to W. S. W., our course being N. E. by N. In the evening the 
wind freshened, with cloudy weather. 

December 2d. Last night we had a very furious whirlwind, 
which, notwithstanding, it pleased God, passed about the length 
of our ship to westward of us. However, we handed in our 
topsails, and hauled up our lowsail in the brails. After the 
whirlwind came a fresh storm of large hailstones, in the night, 
and several tornadoes; but, God be thanked, they all came 
large of our ship. We now made a great way under a fore 
course and spritsail. At four this morning our foresail split, 
whereby we were forced to lower our fore yard. At half an 
hour after ten we hoisted it again, with a furious S. W. wind. 
We made a N. E. by E. way, and by the same forty-seven 
leagues and a half. By observation, we now had latitude 46° 
54/ S. We reefed our topsail, with respect to the violence of 
the wind. But in the evening this rather increased, and we 
had a very great sea. Our standing rigging, through the fury 
of this gale, gave way in several places, but was soon mended 
again. 

December 3d. The wind all the night past was very fresh, 
with severe flaws, both of wind and rain, at S. W. and S \Y. 
by S. We enjoyed now very warm weather. This morning 
we set our fore-topsail. Our reckoning gave us a N. E. half 
E. way, and forty-five leagues. We found latitude by obser- 
vation 45° 28' S. This day, at noon, a large shoal of young 
porpoises came about our ship, and played up and down. 

December 4th. All the night past we had a fresh gale at 
W. S. W. The night was clear, only that now and then we 
had a small cloud affording some rain. In the morning, from 
four till eight, it rained; but then it cleared up again, with a 
S. W. wind, and a very smooth sea. We made a N. E. one 
quarter N. way, thirty-nine leagues. By observation we found 
latitude 44° V S. At noon the wind came to S. S. W., our 
course then being N. N. E. This day we agreed among our- 
selves, having the consent of our commander, to share the eight 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 301 

chests of money which as yet remained unshared. Yesterday, 
m the evening, we let out the reef of our foresail, and hoisted 
up our foreyard. This evening I found variation 17° N. E. 

Monday, December 5th. All night past, a clear night, and 
this a fair day, with a fresh wind at S. S. W. We reckoned 
a JV. E. 5° N. way, and by the same forty-two leagues. An 
observation gave us latitude 42° 29' S. This afternoon we 
shared of the chests above mentioned, three hundred pieces of 
eight to each man. I novy reckoned myself to be E. from 
my departure four hundred and seventy-one leagues, and one 
third of a league. At night again we shared twenty-two pieces 
of eight more to each. 

December 6lh. We had a clear starlight night the last, and 
a fair morning this day, with a fresh gale at S. W. At noon, 
we took in our fore-topsail. We reckoned a N. E. half N. 
way, and hereby fifty leagues and two thirds. An observation 
taken afforded us 43° 31' S. This evening was cloudy. 

December 7th. The night was both windy and cloudy. 
At one in the morning we took in our topsails, and at three, 
handed our spritsail, and so we scudded away before the wind, 
which now was very fresh at W. This morning a gust of 
wind came and tore our mainsail into an hundred pieces, which 
made us put away before the wind, till we could provide for 
that accident. My reckoning was a N. E. three quarters E. 
way, and by the same thirty- three leagues. By observation 
we found latitude 39° 37' S. We had now a great sea, and a 
fresh wind. At three in the afternoon we set another foresail, 
the first being blown to pieces. At the same time we furled 
our spritsail. At five the wind came at W. S. W., with very 
bad weather. This day our worthy commander, Captain Sharp, 
had very certain intelligence given him, that on Christmas day, 
which was now at hand, the company, or at least a great part 
thereof, had a design to shoot him ; he having appointed that 
day some time since to be merry. Hereupon he made us share 
t lie wine amongst us, as being persuaded they would scarce 
attempt any such thing in their sobriety. The wine we shared 
fell out to three jars to each mess. That night the wind 
increased. 

December Sth. The night past was both cloudy and windy ; 
the wind very often varying between the N. W. and S. W. 
points. This morning it varied between W. and N. W. by W. 
About noon this day we brought a new mainsail to the yard, but 
did not set it then, by reason there bio wed too much wind. I 
reckoned a N. E. half N. way, and by the same thirty leagues. 
By observation made, we found latitude 38° 29' S. In the 
afternoon we had one or two squalls of wind and rain ; but the 
26 



302 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

violence of both fell at stern of us. In the evening it blew 
again very hard. I observed this day the rising and setting of 
the sun, and found the exact variation to be 12° 15' N. E. 

December 9th. The night was starlight, but withal very 
windy. About break of day, the wind came to N. W., and at 
seven we set our fore-topsail, and stood N. N. E., with not 
much wind. We made, since our last reckoning, a N. E. quarter 
E. way, and twenty-nine leagues. We found, by observation, 
latitude 37° 30' S. The sea was much fallen, but our ship 
began to complain of several leaks, through our tedious and 
long voyage. This afternoon we hoisted up our main yard, 
and set up back-stays and main-swifter, whose ring-bolt gave 
way, but was mended. In the evening of this day we had but 
•little wind. 

December 10th. The night was very clear, but till ten 
o'clock this forenoon, we had no wind. Then a small breqze 
sprang up at N. by E. We made an E. N. E. one third N. 
way, and hereby twenty-one leagues. An observation gave 
us latitude 37° 1/ S. In the afternoon our chief surgeon cut 
off the foot of a negro boy, which was perished with cold. 
Now it was like to be bad weather again. Hereupon we furled 
our topsails, and lay under a pair of courses. But in the even- 
ing we lay under a foresail and mizzen, with misty weather. 

Sunday December 11th. All the night past we had afresh 
wind at N., and sometimes at N. N. W. The weather was very 
cloudy, with drizzling rain. We made an E. way, and thereby 
twenty-five leagues. This day brought a great sea. About 
ten in the morning one of our main shrouds gave way. In the 
evening fell some small rain. 

December 12th. All the night past we had misty rain, and 
but little wind ; yea, in the morning a perfect calm. »At noon 
came up a small gale at E. S. E. and S. E., bringing with it 
cloudy weather. We reckoned a N. E. by E. way, and by 
the same eighteen leagues. Yesterday died the negro boy 
whose foot was cut off by our surgeon, as was mentioned the 
day before. This afternoon also died another negro, something 
bigger than the former, named. Chepillo. The boy's name was 
Beasero. All this evening but small wind. 

December 13th. All night the wind was at E. S. E., our 
course being N. N. E. At three in the morning it came about 
at S. S. W., and at nine at E. by N.- I reckoned a N. E. by N. 
way, and fifteen leagues. The weather was hazy. In tho 
afternoon the wind was at N. E., our course being N. N. W. 
We had now a very smooth sea, and saw multitudes of grampus- 
es, whales, and porpoises every day, as we sailed along. 

December 14th. The evening past was cloudy, as also the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 303 

night foggy ; hereupon we took in our topsails. At half an 
hour after three this morning we stood N. E., the wind being 
then at N. N. W. At five we put out our topsails again. At 
seven we saw a turtle floating upon the sea. We reckoned a 
N. N. E. way. This day's observation afforded us 34° 32' S. 
At this time we had very hot weather, and great dews in the 
night. My whole easting I reckoned to be now six hundred 
and seventy-seven leagues and one third of a league. 

December 15th. We had a fine night the last past, and a 
great dew. The wind in the interim was between N. and N. 
W. I reckoned a N. E. half E. way, and by the same thirty- 
one leagues. We had an observation that gave us latitude 33° 
46' S. At noon the wind came about at N. N. W., our course 
being N. E. We had this day a very clear evening, and at 
the same time a fresh wind. 
fc December 16th. We had a fair night and wind at N. N. W. 
and N. W. by N. This morning I took the sun at its rising, 
and found N. E. variation 20° 30' S. My reckoning was a N. 
N. E. way, and thirty-six leagues and one third of another. By 
observation, I found latitude 32° 9' S. At noon this day the 
wind came about to N. W. 

December 17th. Most part of the last night, the wind was 
at N. W. as before ; but towards morning a fine and easy gale 
sprang up at W. N. W. This morning we saw several dolphins 
playing upon the sea, which made us hope they would at last 
befriend us, and suddenly show us some land or other. We 
reckoned a N. E. by N. One third N. way, and by the same 
twenty-five leagues. An observation gave us now latitude 31° 
4' S. A fair evening. 

December 18th. We had a clear night past, together with 
a smooth gale at N. W., which this morning was at W. by S. 
We had now a smooth sea for several days past. Our reckoning 
was twenty-five leagues, by a N. E. by N. way. By observa- 
tion we perceived latitude 29° 48' S. 

December 19th. A clear night the last past, and a fresh 
breeze at S. S. W. and S. W. by S., lasting until nine in the 
morning. Then sprung up a wind at S. E. by E. I reckoned 
this day a N. N. E. half E. way, and upon the same thirty 
leagues. By observation made, we took latitude 28° 29' S. 
The day was very fair, and a smooth sea, with weather that 
was very hot. My whole easting I reckoned now to be seven 
hundred and sixty leagues. This evening I found variation 
2° 50' N. E. 



304 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

The Buccaneers continue their Navigation, without seeing any Land, till thcj 
arrive at the Caribbce Islands, in the West Indies. — They give away theii 
Ship to some of their Companions that were poor, and disperse for several 
Countries. — The Author, of this Journal arriveth in England. 

December 20th, 16S1. The night before was something 
cloudy, but the weather was fair, and the wind but little. At 
noon the wind came about N. by E., our course being W. N. 
W. We made a N. N. W. way, and thereby, as I reckoned, 
twenty-two leagues. By observation made, we took latitude 
27° 25' S. The evening was cloudy, and now and then there 
fell a shower of rain. 

December 21st. At eight o'clock last night, the wind came 
N. W. by N., but withal with dark weather, that we were forced 
to take in onr topsails. The night was something rainy, and 
the weather this morning calm and rainy. About ten we had a 
small breeze at N. W". We reckoned a N. by E. way, and by 
the same sixteen leagues. The afternoon was calnr and still. 

December 22d. We had a fair clear night the last past, 
which produced this day a smooth sea, and extreme hot weath- 
er, and very little wind near the sun, so that no observation 
was made, 

December 23d. The night was very fair. At midnight, or 
thereabouts, a fresh gale sprung up at S. E. and E. S. E., which 
sometimes was E. ; this freshened by degrees. We had in the 
day very hot and clear weather. By a N. way, I reckoned fif- 
teen leagues. 

December 24th. Last night we had both a fresh gale, and 
a clear night. The wind was at E. by S. We reckoned a 
N. E. by E. way, and by it thirty-one leagues. 

Sunday, December 25th. This day being Christmas day, 
for celebration of that great festival, we killed yesterday, in the 
evening, a sow. This sow we had brought from the Gulf of 
Nicoya, being then a suckling pig, of about three weeks old, 
but now weighed about fourscore and ten pounds. With this 
hog's flesh we made our Christmas dinner, being the only flesh 
we had eaten since we turned away our prizes under the equi- 
noctial, and left the Island of Plata. We had this day several 
flaws of wind, and some rain, but the weather otherwise was 
pretty clear. I reckoned a N. by E. way, and thirty-three 
leagues by the same. It was now also extremely hot weather, 
as was signified before. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 305 

December 26th. We had this day several gusts of wind, 
which forced us to stand by our topsails ; yet they were but 
very short, and all the rest of the while we enjoyed an indif- 
ferent fresh gale at E. and E. by S. We reckoned a N. by E. 
way, and twenty-eight leagues. 

December 27th. We had fair weather and a fresh wind at 
E. and E. by S. I reckoned a N. by E. way, and upon the 
same thirty-two leagues. The evening of this day was cloudy. 

December 28th. Last night was cloudy, with a fresh wind. 
We reckoned a N. E. way, and by the same forty-six leagues. 
We found, by an observation made, latitude 15° 30' S. My 
whole easting I reckoned this day to be eight hundred and 
twenty-five leagues. Now we saw much flying-fish, with some 
dolphins, bonitoes, and albicores ; but they would not take 
the hook. 

December 29th. All last night was cloudy, with a fresh 
wind between E. and E. S. E. The weather all the afternoon 
was hazy. I reckoned a N. by E. way, and hereupon forty 
leagues and one third. In the afternoon we had a S. E. by E. 
wind, which blew very fresh. The evening was clear. At 
sunset I found variation to N. W. 4° 19'. 

December v 30th. The night past was cloudy. Towards 
morning the wind came about at E. At six it came E. S. E., 
and at ten to S. E. by S. We made a N. by E. way, and for- 
ty-three leagues. By an observation, we found latitude 11° 3/ 
S. The evening of this day was clear. 

December 31st. We had a cloudy night the last past, but 
the morning was hazy. We came now to a strict allowance 
of only three good pints of water each day. We made a N. by 
E. way, and found latitude, by observation, 8° 55' S. In the 
afternoon we had an E. S. E. and S. E. by E. wind. My 
whole easting I reckoned now to be eight hundred and eighty- 
four leagues and one third. At noon we stood away N. W. 

Sunday, January 1st, 1681. All the night past was cloudy, 
as this day also, with some showers of rain. We made a N. W. 
one eighth N. way, and forty leagues. In the afternoon came 
about a fresh wind at S. E. and E. S. E. 

January 2d. The weather this day was both dull and 
cloudy. We reckoned a N. W. one quarter N. way, and by 
the same thirty-two leagues. By observation, we found that our 
latitude now was 6° 6' S. The wind came pretty fresh at S. E. 

January 3d. We had several squalls of wind, and some rain ; 
but withal a fresh wind at S. E. and E. S. E. Our reckoning 
was a N. W. one quarter N. way, and thirty-four leagues. The 
afternoon was clear, but the evening cloudy. 
26* 



306 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

January 4th. All the night past was very cloudy ; but this* 
forenoon it cleared up. Yesterday we put aboard our main- 
topsail studden-sails, but took them in at night. At four this 
morning, we set our larboard studden-sail, and before noon fit- 
ted up topgallant masts and yard. We made a N. W way, and 
by it forty leagues and two thirds. By observation, we had 
now latitude 3° 9' S. This afternoon also we set up our top- 
gallant-sail, being forced to make out all its running rigging. 
The wind was pretty fresh at S. E. and S. E. by E. 

January 5lh. Most part of the night past was clear, and star- 
light, though with some rain towards morning. This being 
come, we put out our topgallant-sail, and both our topsail stud- 
den-sails. At noon, likewise, we put up our fore topgallant 
masts and yard. We caught an albicore this day, weighing 
about one hundred and twenty pounds weight. The wind was 
at S. E. by S. and S. S. E. We made a N. W.way, and reck- 
oned thereby thirty-five leagues. By observation, we found 
latitude 2° 3' S. We had now mighty hot weather. 

January 6th.- Yesterday, in the evening, we caught another 
albicore, which weighed only eight or nine pounds. We made 
a N. W. way, and reckoned thirty-five leagues, as before. Now, 
by an observation made, we could perceive only latitude 49' S. 
The evening of this day was Very clear. 

January 7th. The wind was variable between S. S. E. and 
S. S. W., though not altogether so fresh as before. Our reck- 
oning was a N. W one quarter N. way, and thirty-six leagues 
by the same. This day, an observation gave us 32' N. of 
the equinoctial, which now we had passed again. In the after- 
noon we caught another albicore, which weighed more than 
the first ; that is, between one hundred and thirty-five and one 
hundred and forty pounds. But little wind stirring this after- 
noon. 

January 8th. The evening past we had almost a calm. At 
nine this morning, we had a fresh wind at S. S. E., with dark 
weather, so that we thought it convenient to take in our main- 
topsail. But at noon we set it again, and also, our larboard 
top studden-sail, with both topgallant-sails. We made a N. W. 
way, and by it thirty-four leagues. By an observation made, 
we found latitude 1° 55' N. We had now extreme hot weath- 
er, and a very small allowance of water. 

January 9th. Last night we took in our topsails all night, 
the wind then whiffling between S. and W. points. We had 
notwithstanding, for the most part, very little wind. The 
morning was rainy, so that we providentially saved a bompkin 
of water. There was now a great rippling sea rising very high. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 307 

It is reported, there is an enchanted island hereabouts, which 
some positively say they have sailed over. I reckoned a N. W. 
by N. one quarter N. way, and twenty-five leagues. This af- 
ternoon we had very dark and calm weather, looking as though 
we should have much rain. Now reckoning up my meridian, 
I found myself E. from my departure, seven hundred and two 
leagues. In the evening we had very rainy weather, and a 
cockling sea. 

January 10th. All the night past was cloudy. About mid- 
night sprang up a small breeze varying all around the comoass. 
At five this morning we had a breeze at S. E., and a very clear 
sky, which afterwards continued to freshen, with the same clear- 
ness as before. We made a N. W. by N. one quarter N. way, 
and by the same two leagues and two thirds. By a clear ob- 
servation, we had now latitude 3 3 16' N. At four this evening, 
the wind was at E. S. E., the weather being violently hot, inso- 
much that our allowance of water being short, it was very te- 
dious. At the same time we had an indifferent smooth sea 
from the E. 

January 11th. All the night past we had little or no wind ; 
but about two in the morning, the wind freshened again at E. 
N. E., and brought both a clear and hot day. We made twen- 
ty-three leagues, by a N. W. one quarter W. way This day's 
observation gave us latitude 4° 6' N. In the afternoon we had 
a shower of rain, and after a fresh wind at E. N. E. But the 
evening grew dull. 

January 12th. In the night past we had two or three squalls 
of wind, and some showers of rain. In the mean while the 
wind blew fresh at N. E. and N. E. by E., as it also continued 
to do in the day. I reckoned a N. W. way, and forty-four 
leagues and one third. Our observation this day gave us 5° 49 / 
N. Yesterday and to-day we set our main-topsail. Now I 
could not find much variation of the needle. 

January 13th. We had a fresh gale all the last night, but 
more northerly than before ; for now it was N. E. by N. We 
reckoned a W. N. W. way, and thereupon — leagues and two 
thirds. An observation taken showed us latitude 6° 41' N. We 
had a N. N. E. sea, and ve.ry clear weather. 

January 14th. We had a clear night the last, and a fresh 
wind at E. N. E. We made a N. W. one fifth W. way, and 
thirty-eight leagues. By an observation, we found latitude 7° 
46' N. We had a smooth sea, and now we were come to only 
three horns of water a day, which were in all but a quart 
allowance for each man. The evening was clear, and we had 
a fresh wind. 



308 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Sunday, January 15th. The night past was clear, and the 
wind fresh at E. N. E., and again at N. E by E., very fresh 
About eleven at night died one of our companions, named Wil- 
liam Stephens. It was commonly believed that he poisoned 
himself with man zan ilia in Golfo Dulce, for he never had been 
in health since that time. This forenoon was cloudy. We 
reckoned forty-four leagues, and a N. W. way. An observation 
gave us this day 9° IS' N. All the night we kept out our top- 
gallant-sails. We saw hereabouts many large flying-fish. This 
morning, also, we threw overboard our dead man. and gave him 
two French volleys, and one English one. I found now again 
very small variation. 

January 16th. We had a clear night, and a very fresh 
wind at N. E. and E. N. E., with a long homing sea. My 
reckoning was' a N. W. one seventh W. way, and thereby forty- 
eight leagues and one third. The observation made this day 
gave us latitude 10° 48' N. I reckoned myself now east from 
my departure five hundred and fifty-three leagues. We had a 
cloudy evening. 

January 17th. All the night past we enjoyed a fresh wind, 
and so this day, also, at N. E. by N. We made a N. W. half 
W. way, and thereupon forty-seven leagues and one third of a 
league. By observation we found latitude 12° 19' N. We had 
now a long north sea. At noon this day we steered away N. 
N. W. The day was very hot, but' the night both cool 
and dewy. 

January ISth. All the night past was both cloudy and 
windy. At six this morning our spritsail-topmast broke. I 
reckoned a W. N. W. way, and forty-eight leagues by the 
same. We found, by observation, latitude 13 3 12' N. At noon 
we steered away west, the wind being at N. E. fresh, with a 
clear evening. 

January 19th. We had a clear night the last, and fresh wind 
at E. N. E., which sometimes came in pushes. Our reckoning 
was a W. half southerly way, and by the same forty-six leagues. 
We found, by observation, latitude 13° V N. Yesterday, in the 
evening, we put up a new spritsail-topmast, with a fine, smooth 
gale at N. E. by E. 

January 20th. The night past was clear, and not very fresh, 
but at daybreak it freshened again. Last night we saw a great 
shoal of fish, whereof we caught none, by reason the porpoises 
frightened them from us, as they oftentimes had done before. 
Yesterday, in the evening, we saw a man-of-war fowl, and that 
gave us good hopes we should ere long see land. These 
hopes, and the great desire we had to end our voyage, gave us 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



309 




310 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

occasion this day to put in, or stake down, each man of our 
company, a piece of eight for a reward to him that should first 
discover land. We reckoned a W. one sixth northerly way, 
and by it thirty-eight leagues. An observation gave us this 
day latitude 13° IF N. The wind was at N. E. and E. N. E. 
This day we passed over many ripplings, and saw abundance 
of fish, but we could take none for the porpoises. 

On January 21st, we made a W. way, and reckoned forty- 
seven leagues. By observation, we found latitude 13° 7' N. 
The wind was at E. N. E., and from thence came a long sea. 
The evening was very clear. 

January 22d, we had a fair and a clear day, the wind being 
at E. We reckoned a W. by N. one third W. way, and forty- 
leagues. An observation showed us latitude 13° 17' N. We 
had a clear evening, and a fresh wind at E. N. E. 

January 23d. This day was both clear and hot, with a fresh 
wind at E. N. E. My reckoning was a W. way, and forty-six 
leagues. Our observation, made this day, afforded us latitude 
13 J 15' N. In the evening we had some rain. 

January 24th. This day brought us likewise clear weather, 
such as the day before. I reckoned a W. way, and forty 
leagues and one third. By observation, we found latitude 13° 
12' N. The afternoon was cloudy, and we had some rain, 
the wind freshening at E. N. E. and E. by N. I reckoned now 
that I was E. from my departure three hundred and eleven 
leagues. We had a cloudy evening. 

January 25th. Both last night and this morning the weather 
was cloudy. This morning we saw several tropic birds of 
diverse sorts. Onr reckoning was a W. three quarters N. way, 
and forty-three leagues. We found, by observation, latitude 13° 
29' N. This afternoon we saw a booby flying close aboard the 
horizon. The weather was hazy. And now we began to 
look out sharp on all sides for land, expecting to see it every 
minute. I reckoned myself to be eastward of my departure 
two hundred and sixty-eight leagues. 

January 26th. The night past was indifferently clear ; yet 
notwithstanding this morning we had a smart shower of rain 
and wind. Hereupon we furled the spritsail, the weather being 
very hazy to the westward. We reckoned a W. way, and 
thereby forty-six leagues and one third. By observation taken, 
we found latitude 13° 17 / N. At noon this day we had a very 
fierce tornado, and rainy together, but withal a clear afternoon. 
We had a high E. N. E. sea, and saw multitudes of flying- 
fish ; also several fowls, and amongst these two or three boo- 
bies. The evening was hazy. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 311 

January 27th. All night past we had a fresh wind and clear 
weather. This morning onr fore-topmast-backstay gave way, 
and at daybreak the starboard sheet of our fore-topsail broke. 
We had several tornadoes this day, and dark weather. Our 
reckoning was a* W. way, and forty-eight leagues by the same. 
We had a clear evening, and a dark night. This day, also, a 
certain bird, called a noddy, came on board us, which we 
took for a certain token that we were not now very far 
from land. 

Saturday, January 28th. We had a very clear night the last 
past. About an hour before day one of our company happened 
to descry land, which proved to be the Island "of Barbadoes, at 
S. S. W. from us, and at about two leagues and a half dis- 
tance from Chalky Mount, standing S. W. by S. As we sailed, 
we saw several ships at anchor in Spike's Road. Soon after a 
shallop passed by, between us and the shore, but would not 
come within call of us. Hereupon we stood in within a mile 
of the shore, and made a whiff to a pinnace which we saw 
coming out of the road before mentioned. She came close 
aboard, and was the barge belonging to his Majesty's frigate, 
the Richmond, then lying at the Bridgetown at anchor. They 
told us of a peace at home, but would not come on board us, 
though often invited thereunto. Neither dared we be so bold 
as to put in at Barbadoes ; for hearing of a frigate lying there, 
we feared lest the said frigate should seize us for privateers, 
and for having acted in all our voyage without commission. So 
we stood away from thence for the Island of Antego. 

Here I cannot easily express the infinite joy we were pos- 
sessed with all this day to see our own countrymen again. 
They told us, that a ship, which we saw in the offing to lee- 
ward of the island, was a Bristol man, and an interloper ; but 
we feared that same vessel to be the frigate before mentioned. 
I reckoned a way of twenty-five leagues, so that I was now, 
by my account, to eastward of my departure one hundred and 
fifty-one leagues. Now we stood N. by W., and, by observa- 
tion, found latitude 13° IT 7 N., we being then N. W. from the 
body of the Island of Barbadoes between seven and eight 
leagues. This afternoon we freed the negro, who was our 
shoemaker by his trade, giving him his liberty for the good 
service he had done us in all the course of this voyage. We 
gave, also, to our good commander, Captain Sharp, a mulatto' 
boy to wait on him, as a free gift of the whole company, in 
token of our respects to him for conducting us safe through so 
many dangerous adventures. This being done, we shared 
some parcels of money that had not as yet been touched of our 



312 THE BUCCANEERS' OF AMERICA. 

former prizes, and this dividend amounted to twenty-four pieces 
of eight a man. 

At one of the clock this day, from our fore yard we descried 
the Island of Santa Lucia, being one of the western islands, 
not far distant from that of Barbadoes. I had omitted to tell a 
passage, which happened in our ship on Thursday last, which 
was 26th day of this month, 'and just two days before we made 
the island before mentioned of Barbadoes. A little Spanish 
shock-dog, which we had found in our late wine prize, taken 
under the equinoctial, and had kept alive till now, was sold 
at the mast by public cry, for forty pieces of eight, his owner 
saying that all he could get for him should be spent upon the 
company at a public merriment. Our commander, Captain 
Sharp, bought the dog, with intention to eat him, in case.we 
did not see land quickly. This money, therefore, with one 
hundred pieces of eight more, which our boatswain, carpenter, 
and quarter-master had refused to take at this last dividend, for 
some quarrel they had against the sharers thereof, was all laid 
up in store till we came to land, in order to be spent on shore, 
at a common feast, or drinking bout. At sunset the Island of 
Santa Lucia bore W. S. W. from us, and was at ten leagues 
distance. Also the Island of Martinica bore N. W. by W. of 
us, at twelve or thirteen leagues distance. "We had this day a 
very clear evening. 

Sunday, January 29th, we had a clear night, and a fresh 
wind at E. by N. and at E. N. E. Our reckoning was at N. 
N. W. half W. way, and hereby forty-six leagues. By obser- 
vation, we took latitude 15° 45' N. At noon this day we saw 
the island -named La Desseada, or the Desired Island, which 
then bore N. W. from us, and seemed to be at about eight 
leagues distance. At six in the evening, we saw Marigalante, 
another of the Caribbee Islands, at S. W. by W. from us, and 
that of Guadalupe, streaking itself in several hammocks of land, 
both westward and northward; as also La Desseada above 
mentioned at S, E., which from thence shows like table-land, 
and at each end hath a low point running out. At six this even- 
ing it was W. S. W., and at five or six leagues distance from us. 
A.t the same time we saw the Island of Monserrat, at a great 
distance, and making three round hammocks close together. 
This evening we caught an albicore of twenty pound weight. 

Monday, January 30th. We had a fair night all the last past, 
and a fresh wind. Hereupon all night we hauled up our main- 
sail in brails, standing at the same N. by W., with the wind at 
E. N. E. At midnight we stood N. W. At three in the 
morning we lay by till five. Then we stood away W. N. W. till 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 313 

six ; and then stood W. At eight of the clock we saw the 
Island of La Antigua, called by us Antego, to the southward 
of us, making three round hammocks of land, and a long high 
hill to northward. Hereupon, we stood W. S. W. for it. At 
noon we found latitude 17° N., the island being then just W. 
from us. 

We came about to the south of the island, and sent a canoe 
ashore to get tobacco, and such other necessaries as we wanted, 
as also to ask leave of the governor to come into port. The 
gentry of the place, and common people, were very willing and 
desirous to receive us. But on Wednesday, February 1st, the 
governor flatly denied us entry ; at which all the gentry were 
much troubled, showing themselves very kind to us. -Hereupon 
we agreed among ourselves to give the slip to those of our 
company who had no money left them of all their purchase in 
this voyage, having lost it at play ; and then put ourselves on 
board two ships bound for England. So I myself, and thirteen 
more of our company, went on board Captain Robert Porteen's 
ship, called the Lisbon Merchant, and set sail from La Antigua 
February 11th, and landed at Dartmouth, in England, March 
26th, A. D. 1682. 
27 



314 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



CHAPTER L. 

A Journal of a Voyage made by the Freebooters into the South Sea, 1684, and 
in the following Years.* 

It is no very uncommon thing for a child, that is a native of 
Paris, to go and seek his fortune abroad, and to entertain a fixed 
design of becoming a man engaged in hazardous adventures. 
This city, within which most of the wonders of the world arc 
contained, and which is perhaps the greatest that can be met 
with, ought, in my opinion, to have the preference of any other 
upon the face of the earth. But who is he that can penetrate 
into the secrets of Nature, and give a reason for some sort of 
inclinations she works in the minds of mortals? As for my- 
self, I confess I am not able to give an account pf the depth of 
my desires ; and all that I can say is, that I have always had a 
most passionate disposition for travel. Scarce was I seven 
years old, when, through some innate notions, whereof I had 
not the mastery, I began to steal out of my father's house. It 
is true, my first rambles were not far, because my age and 
strength would not allow them to be so; but they were so 

* A Certificate given by the Governor of St. Domingo to the Author of this Journal, 
concerning the Service. 

The Sieur de Cussy, his Majesty's Governor of the Tortoise Island and the Coast of 

St. Domingo. 
We do certify, That the Sieur Ravenau de Lussan hath served in a company of 
fourscore and four men with the Sieur Lawrence de Graft', in the quality of an ensign 
against the Spaniards, his Majesty's enemies; and that, having gone into the South 
Sea, he fell into the company of other freebooters, from whence not being able to 
return, but by the force of their arms, he lias given upon those occasions signal proofs 
ooth of his zeal and courage. In testimony whereof we have given him this certifi- 
cate, to which we have affixed our seal, and ordered our secretary to countersign 
the same. 

Given at the Fort of Port Paix, May 17, 1688. De Cussy. 

By the Governor's command, 

Boyer. 

A Copy of a Letter written by Monsieur De Cussy, his Majesty's Governor of the 
Tortoise Island and Coast of St. Domingo, to Monsieur de Lubert, Treasurer 
General of the Marine, upon the Subject Matter of this Author's Journal. 

Sir : — I have taken notice from those letters you have done me the honor to 
write unto me the preceding years, that you interest yourself in the affairs of the 
Sieur Ravenau de Lussan ; wherefore, sir, I have thought it my duty to inform you 
of his return from the South Sea, with two hundred and sixty of his comrades, who 
got clear out of that country by the performing of wonderful actions, the particulars 
whereof I shall not enter upon, since he will have the honor to give you an exact and 
faithful account of them himself, being the only person of all the company that has 
kept a journal. 

I was in hopes to have got him embarked in the king's ship called the Marine, which 
was to be gone in two days, and Monsieur De Beaugeau, the commander, promised 
me to give him his table upon your account ; but the said Sieur De Lussan, thinking 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 315 

much the more frequent, and I have often given my parents 
the trouble to look after me in the suburbs, and that place we 
call La Yilette. However, as I grew up, my excursions were 
the larger, and by degrees I accustomed myself to lose a sight 
of Paris. 

This rambling sort of humor was accompanied with another, 
which I dare not dignify with the name of a martial one, but 
was such as wrought in me an ardent desire to see some siege 
or battle. I could not hear the noise of the drum in the streets 
Without those transports of mind, the remembrance whereof 
does still operate a kind of a vigorous heat and joy in me. It 
so fell o\it at length, that I met with an officer, with whom I 
had but a slender acquaintance ; but my warrike genius quickly 
inclined me to make him my friend. I looked upon him as a 
person who could be very serviceable to me in my designs ; and 
it was with this prospect I applied myself to manage him. The 
siege of Conde being happily commenced at this time, and he 
being obliged to serve there with his company, I made him 
the offer of a sword that had hitherto done neither good nor 
harm to any man, but which I was passionately desirous to 
•make use of. Here it was that he gave me the first instances 
of his friendship, for he took me freely along with him, and 

the frigate to be gone, staid with me at Port Paix, to wait an opportunity of meeting 
with another ship that should be bound directly for Dieppe. I heartily wish, sir, I 
could meet with an opportunity of serving you in these parts. I should do it with 
exceeding pleasure, as being, with all deference and respect imaginable, sir, 

Your most humble and obedient servant, De Cussy. 

At the Cape, May 7, 1688. 

A Copy of another Letter loritten by the said Monsieur De Cussy to the Father 
of the Author of this Journal. 

Sir : — I cannot let your son be gone, without testifying to you how much con- 
cerned I am in the satisfaction and joy you will have to see him return from so long 
and toilsome a voyage, as I am confident of your being sorry at present that 1 had not 
sent him home to you at the time you desired, which yet I should not have failed to 
do, had he not been absent ; and at whose return I delivered him one of your letters, 
which I always preserved safe with those of Monsieur De Lubert. He has no occasion 
to make use of me, though I have made him an offer of my utmost service. I may 
say, without vanity, that he has made the greatest and finest voyage in our age, and 
that he has seen countries which a great many people in the world content themselves 
to view in maps, without desiring any other sight of them, though they had all the 
riches thereof bestowed upon them for their pains. Besides the pleasure you will 
have to see your son again, you will have also that of hearing him discourse, perti- 
nently enough, of his voyage and adventures ; there being no other besides himself 
of all the company that can give an exact account thereof, as having all along applied 
himself to keep a very punctual journal of all transactions, which I am confident will 
be pleasing to my Lord Marquis De Signelay. I have myself the honor to write to 
him concerning it, that so I might engage your son to go and present it to him, which 
perhaps othenvise he would not have adventured to do, out of the little esteem him- 
self has of his own work. This is what offers itself at present for me to write to you, 
assuring you, I should take a deal of pleasure to find myself in any condition to serve 
him, and that I am, sir, 

Your most humble, and most obedient servant, De Cussy. 

At the Fort of Port Paix, May 18, 1688. 



316 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

kept me all the campaign ; at the breaking up whereof I re- 
turned with him, no ways discouraged, or weary of war, as the 
greatest part of them are, who have had but just a taste of it. 
And this I tell you was my first adventure. 

The second was not quite so good in regard to the success 
that attended it, though it was alike agreeable to my palate, and 
according to my heart's desire. I happened to become a cadet 
in the marine regiment, but I fell into the hands of a captain 
who was wondrous skilful to drain children of good families of 
their money; so that this campaign, wherein I hoped to have 
done the king some service, was worn away in expenses. My 
father gave more than he should, or I deserved, to gefmy dis- 
charge, and to set* me once at full liberty to take what I liked 
best; it was not perhaps his inclination I should do so, but it 
was mine, and I was not long to seek. 

God, who, it seems, was not willing to make me out of con- 
ceit with the trade, was so much the better guide unto me at 
this time, as I was so ill guided before, for Monsieur the Count 
d'Avegean, whose personal merit has sufficiently distinguished 
him in the body of the French guards, took me along with him 
to the siege of St. Guislain, where I failed not to meet with 
new pleasures in the use of arms, though it were never so* hot. 
There were a great many men's lives lost at this siege, which 
yet did not cool the desire I had to hazard my own. And 
though my parents, who could not well brook this my gadding 
humor, were in hopes the fatigues of war would cure me of it, 
they were mistaken in the matter, for I was no sooner got upon 
the stones of Paris, but I grew weary of being there. I had 
nothing but voyages in my head, and those that were longest, 
and most accompanied with dangers, appeared to me to be the 
best. For a person never to get out of his native country, and 
to be ignorant how the rest of the earth stands, appeared to me 
a matter that should be appropriated to a woman only. Where- 
as it was my judgment, that a man should never be confined 
to one place, and that nothing could suit him better than to 
make himself acquainted with all those of his own species. 
To travel by land, I thought both long and difficult, and there- 
fore I concluded I could sooner and more safely accomplish my 
designs by betaking myself to the sea ; and now you find me 
ready to go on board. 

There was nothing omitted on the part of parents, that were 
full of tender affections for an extravagant child, to divert me 
from my resolution. But as to young men, such as I was, it 
may be said, as is usually done of womankind, that what they 
will, God wills ; and to say the truth, I was overruled by my 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 317 

inclination herein ; wherefore when they perceived that abso- 
lutely to oppose my humor would make me but the more opin- 
iative, they proposed I should take a voyage for St. Domingo, 
where I should find friends and protection in case of need ; 
and as this exactly suited both with my desires and designs, 
and that provided I could get to sea, I did not care whither 
bound, I very readily obeyed. 

Dieppe was the place where I embarked, and from whence 
I parted on the 5th of March, 1679, with greater satisfaction 
of mind than I am well able to express. That element, which 
to the generality of men seems very frightful, appeared to me 
the most amiable and delightful of any in the world. The 
winds, if I may say so, wrought in me some delight, for I found 
that almost every little blast brought us happily onwards on 
our way. And I was so overjoyed to find myself in so desira- 
ble an island, that I thought no more of the hazards my voyage 
made me liable to. Let no man therefore be amazed thereat, 
if he finds none of them contained in my journal. And seeing 
there are other persons who have been particular enough in 
their relations given of this passage, I have this only to say, 
that I safely arrived, through the mercy of God, at St. Domingo, 
and if any one has the curiosity to follow me in my remaining 
expedition, he must begin from thence. 

I continued there, however, for above three years, not only 
to see the country, but through such conjunctures as would 
not admit me to go out of it. I found myself chained there to 
a Frenchman, that was so far from deserving the name of one, 
that his hardened malice much better became a Turk. But 
what misery soever I have undergone with him, I freely forgive 
him, being resolved to forget his name, which I shall not men- 
tion in this place, because the laws of Christianity require it at 
my hands ; though as to matter of charity he is not to expect 
much of that in me, since he on his part has been every way 
defective in the exercise thereof upon my account. But my 
patience was at last quite worn out, being weary of those cruel- 
ties, whereof I saw no end. I made my complaints to Monsieur 
de Franquesnay, the king's lieutenant, who acted as governor 
since the other's disease, and whose generosity proved to be a 
sanctuary to me. He readily consented to take me to his own 
house, where I staid six whole months. 

I had borrowed money in the mean time, and I thought it 
was the part of an honest man to repay it. My parents would 
have been perhaps very willing to have paid my debts, but they 
could hear nothing from me, nor I from them ; and the letters 
they sent me passed through such officious hands, that they 
27 * 



318 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

spared us the charge of postage. I was therefore necessitated 
to seek out some other way to free myself; and this I found in 
meeting with that which satisfied the natural inclination I had 
for travelling. I bethought myself of making one of the free- 
booters' gang, to go a voyage with them, and to borrow, for the 
payment of my debts, as much money as I could from the 
Spaniards. Now these sorts of borrowings have this advantage 
attending them, that there is no obligation of repayment, as in 
our country, they being esteemed the product of a just war ; 
and seeing the place of action is beyond the line, there is no 
talk there of making any restitution ; besides which we may 
also observe in this place, that there was then a rupture between 
the two crowns, and that we had a formal commission from 
my lord admiral to infest the Spaniards. 

There was no question to be made, but I could find a captain 
that would receive me; and I was not long in making the 
choice, since there were not many of them at that time to pitch 
upon. Laurence de Graff was the man I most fancied, who 
would make a special corsair ; and though he had not been 
long arrived, all that he wanted was to be gone as well as I. 
We were in a few hours' time satisfied with each other, and 
became such friends as those are wont to be who are about to 
run the same risk of fortune, and apparently to die together. 
This last indeed we should have reckoned upon with the most 
appearance of reason, but it was what we least thought of. My 
departure took up all my thoughts. I furnished myself with 
arms and other small necessaries, at the charge of Monsieur De 
Franquesnay, who was very ready to advance me some money, 
which I have paid him since, and whose kindness I shall never 
forget. At last the day came, and I must freely say, it was, 
in my opinion, one of the best in the course of my life. 

On the 22d of November, in the year 1684, we departed from 
Petit Gaves, on the coast of St. Domingo, to the number of 
one hundred and twenty men, on board a prize taken, some 
time before, by Captain Lawrence de Graff, from the Spaniards, 
which they sent as an advice boat from Carthagena, on the 
terra firma of America, to Spain. 

Our design was to go and join ourselves with a fleet of free- 
booters, which we were in hopes to meet with before the 
Havana, a great city in the Isle of Cuba to the N., and about 
fourteen leagues distant from St. Domingo. 

We anchored on the 4th of December, at the Tortoise Island, 
to take in water, and on the 6th sailed away, in order to return 
to the coast of St. Domingo, which is but three leagues off, 
where we arrived the 12th, and casting anchor at Cape Francis, 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 319 

we took in our full store of water and wood. We left this 
place on the 17th, and were taken with a N. wind two leagues 
from the road in such a manner, that we lost our shallop, 
which was too big to be put upon our gibbet. Towards 
evening we sailed back to a place of safety, whereby we were 
obliged to stay two days waiting for a canoe we had sent to 
buy at the cape, from whence we came, such things as we 
wanted for making up the loss of our shallop. 

On the 20th, we made ready to endeavor to rejoin the Vic- 
torious, a ship that came with us from the cape, belonging to 
JNantes, and bound to the Isles of the Wind, which had on 
board the commander of St. Lawrence, lieutenant general of 
the French islands and the coasts of the terra firma of America, 
and Monsieur Begon, intendent of justice, policy, and the 
finances of that country, to whom we served as convoy, lest they 
should have been attacked by the Spanish periaugues that cruise 
thereabouts. And indeed we had a great deal of reason to be 
concerned for the safety of those gentlemen, who were in much 
esteem with all the colonies of these islands, because of the 
good orders they kept, the exact justice they administered, and 
the tranquillity the people enjoyed under them ; but we could 
not possibly set sight on this ship, as not knowing what course 
she steered. 

On the 23d, we steered our own course, and in the evening 
discovered a ship to leeward of us, to whom we gave chase ; 
but she braced to, to wait for us; and when we were come up 
with her, we found it was Captain Le Sieur, of Dieppe, who 
commanded a flute called the Aramantha, whom we quickly 
left, keeping our own course. But on the 25th, which was 
Christmas day, we had a great calm till next day, when the wind, 
proving contrary, obliged us to put back to the port of Plata, 
on the coast of St. Domingo, where we staid to the end of the 
month. 

On the 1st of January, in the new year 1685, we doubled Cape 
St. Francis, and next day, by ten in the morning, did the same 
by Cape Cabron, as we doubled that of Savona towards noon, 
they being all situated on the same coast ; and that day one of 
our men died. 

On the 4th, we sailed in sight of La Mena ; next day, coasted 
the Isle of Porto Rico, and La Savona, and then steered S. E. 
and by S., till the eleventh, when we discovered the Isles of 
Ave, towards which we bore till the evening, and doubled 
,them on the twelfth about eleven in the morning, keeping still 
the same course till we came to the Isle De la Roca ; where 
there was also another rendezvous of our men-of-war to be, 
which we were going to seek out. 



320 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

On the 13th, at seven in the morning, we discovered the 
main land of America, and were becalmed next day, which 
continued to the 15th, at noon, when we had a fresh gale, and 
steered N. N. E. till the 17th, when about moon-setting we 
descried two ships and four boats to windward of us, about a 
cannon's shot distance, that had the cape of us, which brought 
us upon deck to make all ready. 

One of those boats, on the 18th, by break of day, being 
a tartane, commanded by Captain John Rose, as not knowing 
us, presently came up and hailed us ; and as our captain had a 
commission from the lord high admiral of France, the count 
of Tholouse, we made answer, from Paris, and put out our 
flag; but Rose, who would not know us so, believing we had 
no other intention, in feigning ourselves -to be a king's ship, 
than to get clear of him, gave us two guns to make us strike ; 
insomuch that taking him really for a Spaniard, we knocked 
out the heads of two barrels of powder, in order to burn our- 
selves, and blow up the ship, rather than fall into the hands of 
those people, who never gave us quarter, but were wont to 
make us suffer all imaginable torments, they beginning usually 
with the captain, whom they hang with his commission about his 
neck. But one of the two ships came up with us in a moment, 
and knowing what we were, gave us a signal, which was so 
much the more satisfaction to us, that instead of enemies, 
which we took them to be, they proved to be not only friends, 
but those very ships we were in quest of, which obliged us to 
put in at the cape, and spend that day to visit one another. 

One of these two ships belonged to Captain Michael Lan- 
dresson, and was called the Mutinous, but formerly the Peace ; 
and the other to Captain Lawrence de Graff, whose name was 
the Neptune, but once the St. Francis, and which he had 
quitted, when he went in his prize to St. Domingo to get a 
new commission of the governor, his own that he had being 
then expired. The first of these ships carried fifty pieces of 
cannon, and the other forty-four, and had both of them been 
two Spanish armadillas, who, the year before, coming out of 
Carthagena, to take the ships commanded as well by the 
Captains Lawrence and Michael, as those of Captains John 
Q,uet and Le Sage, were themselves taken by those whom 
they were about to become masters of. And as for the four 
boats, they were commanded by other captains, whose names 
were Rose Vigneron, La Garde, and an English traitor from 
Jamaica ; by them we were informed that they were watching 
in that place for the Patach, of Marguerita, and a squadron of 
Spanish ships, which they expected would sail that way, in 
order to take them. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 321 

On the 19th, we resolved to quit that post, and did all 
we could to get up with the Isle of Currasso, a great part 
whereof belongs to the Hollanders. We sailed in sight of 
those of Bonnara and Roube; and about two in the afternoon 
of the same day, we chased a Flemish boat that came from 
the port of Guaira, on the continent, and was returning to the 
town of Cnrasso, two leagues to leeward of which we anchored 
that evening in the port of Sancta Barba. 

On the 20th, we sent away a boat under the command of 
La Garde, to the town, to ask the governor leave to buy us 
masts for Captain Lawrence's ship, that had lost them in a 
hurricane near the Isle of St. Thomas ; but this he absolutely 
refused, and shut up the gates against us. Upon the boat's 
return, and relation given us of the governor's refusal, I carried 
him a copy of our commission, hoping to engage him by that 
means to grant us our request ; but he still persisted to deny 
us, while a part of our crew scrupled not in the mean time 
to go ashore, and enter the town, after having left their swords 
behind them at the gate. 

On the 23d, our ships weighed anchor, in order to sail for 
Santa Cruz, which stands seven leagues to leeward of this 
town ; and in our passage by the fort we saluted it, and they 
returned us gun for gun ; but the governor, finding we were 
two hundred men of us in the town, informed us, on the 
24th, by beat of drum, that it was his pleasure we should be 
gone, and return forthwith on board our ships, and that he 
would give us shallops to carry us thither, provided we paid 
him two pieces of eight a man. I presently discerned it was 
his will we should not go back by land, because we must for 
that purpose cross a lake that stands at the foot of the fort, 
which he had forbidden us to pass; and this made me go and 
tell him, we gave him thanks for his shallop, that if we were 
minded to go by sea to rejoin our ships, we had periaugues to 
carry us thither; and that we had no other design to get to 
them by land, but for a walk's sake. To which he answered, 
that the inhabitants there scrupled to let us see their island; 
but for all that, he would not let us pass over the lake, and so 
we were two days before we could reach Santa Cruz, where 
our ships were waiting for us. 

We came afterwards to know the reason of the governor's 
displeasure against us, which was, that Captain Lawrence and 
Captain Michael's ships had taken two Dutch ships before the 
Havana, that were freighted for the Spaniards, having two 
hundred thousand pieces of eight that belonged to their company, 
which the freebooters meddled not with, b^ing at peace with that 



322 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

nation ; and they easily persuaded their principals that all had 
been taken from them, and so we were punished for the knav- 
ery these Dutchmen practised towards their own people. 

Though this Island of Curraso be well enough known in 
France, I cannot but take notice, as I go along, that the tem- 
perature of its air is the same with that of St. Domingo, and 
produces the same sort of fruits; and the land is almost level 
throughout, and the country very naked, because of the little 
wood that grows there, being almost barren in several places, 
and produces little to the owners besides maize and small millet ; 
yet it is watered with several springs and rivers. The town 
that stands upon it is small, but very neat, being encompassed 
with a high though very thin wall. There is a good and safe 
port belongs to it, and the fort that commands it, as well as 
the town, is very regularly fortified. The inhabitants are of 
several sorts of religions, the exercise thereof being* free ; the 
chief of which is that of the Dutch, of the Jews, as well as of 
others ; each of whom have their respective places of worship 
in the town. The chief of their trade consists in sugar, that 
grows there, and of wool, which comes from the sheep which 
breed upon the place in great numbers, besides the skins of 
those animals, as also of a great many oxen and cows which 
they keep in the lowest and best watered grounds of this 
island, where it abounds in pasture. They are altogether 
affected to the Spanish nation, with whom they have the main 
of their trade. 

On the 27th, we made ready and steered our course for Cape 
La Vella, which, is on the continent of America, where we 
designed to fix ourselves in order to wait for the Patach, of 
Marguerita, whereof I have already spoken. The same day 
Captain Vigneron's boat left us to return to the coast of St. 
Domingo, because they had not men enough to make any 
thing of the enterprise, there being no more than twenty on 
board her. 

Being come to the cape by the 30th, we anchored there ; 
and our next care was to set some sentinels, to the number of 
fifteen upon the top of it, to give us notice when they discov- 
ered the Patach ; but next day we thought it more advisable 
to pursue this following method to get intelligence. We sent, 
on the 1st of February, Captain Rose's boat to the mouth of the 
River La Hache, on the continent, inhabited by the Spaniards, 
and about twenty leagues distant from the cape where we then 
were, under pretence of trading with them, but in reality with 
a design to make some prisoners, that so we might be informed 
whether the Patach was passed by that way or no ; for it 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 323 

was usual for her to take in part of her lading in that 
river. 

While we waited for the return of this boat, I and some 
others went ashore to view and observe the country about the 
cape. I understood it was inhabited by a most cruel, barbarous, 
and savage Indian nation, who are neither friends to, nor have 
any society with, any other people whatsoever, no, not even 
with the Spaniards themselves, who live round about them. 
They eat without any distinction whatever they can catch, 
and are afraid of nothing but swords and the like weapons ; 
but as for fire arms they matter them not at all. We were 
satisfied to have a sight of them as we returned, without having 
the curiosity to make a trial of their teeth, by going farther up 
into the country where there was nothing to be got. 

I am not able to forbear in this place to give a strange exam- 
ple of what I am speaking, and of what this people can do, 
whom I take to be the oldest freebooters of America. The 
marquis of Maintenon, governor of the Isle of Maragalant, who 
had the command of one of the king's frigates called the Witch, 
having taken a prize of fourteen guns, which he went on board, 
and finding himself one day separated from his own ship, was 
constrained, in order to take in water, to cast anchor at Boca 
del Drago, on the terra firma of America, which was inhabited 
by the same Indian people as live at Cape La Vella. He 
brought his ship as near the shore as he could, and bringing all 
his cannon to bear on one side, he sent under the covert of 
them his shallop, with two and twenty armed men, to fill their 
casks with water. Now those savages tying in ambush upon 
the sea-side, did not give the shallop time to land, but throwing 
themselves headlong into the water, and rushing upon them, in 
spite of the continual fire made upon them from the cannon of 
the man-of-war, they carried her, with the two and twenty 
men, for above fifty paces to land, where, after they had killed 
them, every one took his man upon his back, and moved them 
off ; then they returned, and swimming to cut the cables of the 
ship to make her drive ashore, they hoped also to serve those 
on board the same sauce ; but as good luck would have it, they 
had time to- loose their sails, and to make ready to put farther 
off from the shore. 

On the 2d, we put our ships into a careening posture, and 
on the 8th, Rose's boat returned to us, and gave an account, 
that as soon as they had anchored at the mouth of La Hache, 
they sent a small canoe, with six Englishmen in it, ashore, 
they being of our crew, and at peace then with the Spaniards, 
who agreed with them, that next morning, about sunrising, they 



324 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

would fire a gun, to give the other notice to come on board to 
traffic with them ; — that in the night they had put thirty men 
ashore to surprise those of the Spaniards that should pass to 
and fro, but that the Spaniards, having discerned the snare that 
was laid for them, fired all night, which gave all the inhabit- 
ants the alarm ; — that next morning our people fired their can- 
non of signal, according to the agreement, and put out English 
colors ; but it was to no purpose, for the Spaniards, according 
to all appearance, had no inclination for those goods they sup- 
posed we would trade with them in ; so that our men finding 
their design had miscarried, weighed anchor, and sailed away 
to join us. 

As we were of opinion, at last, that there was no hope the 
Patach would pass that way, we held a council on board our 
ship about forming another design ; but not being able to agree 
with Captain Lawrence, (who was owner of two thirds of the 
Neptune,) because he would have imposed upon us, there were 
fourscore and seven that quitted the ship and went on board 
the prize in which we came from St. Domingo, and so left him 
on the 13th. He weighed and steered his course thither- 
ward. Captain Michael and Captain John Rose weighed also, 
and sailed for Carthagena ; and we, who were irresolute what 
way to take, followed the latter. 

On the 25th, we had a hard easterly breeze, which car- 
ried us beyond a river that runs on the terra jii-ma, and is 
by the Spaniards called Rio Grande, where we should have 
taken in water, which continues sweet within the sea for three 
or four leagues from the mouth of it, for all it rains so little, and 
provided you take that which runs on the superfices. About 
three of the same day, in the afternoon, we saw Our Lady De 
La Poupa, which is also on the continent, and the 26th an- 
chored at the Isles of St. Bernard, from whence we parted in 
the evening with three periaugues only, in order to get to wind- 
ward of Carthagena, to endeavor to seek us some provision, 
which they continually carry to that place ; and our design had 
in effect the desired success. 

We returned on the 18th, with seven periaugues laden with 
maize, which we made good prize. By the Spaniards that were 
in them, we understood that there were two galleons at Car- 
thagena, and that the Spanish flota was at Porto Bello,and that 
two ships, one carrying twenty and the other twenty-four guns, 
would quickly set out from thence ; but we did not think fit to 
wait for them, because they could not assign" to us any deter- 
minate time when they should sail. 

On the 22d, at noon, we weighed, and towards evening 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 325 

discovered Point Picaron, on the continent, and the Isles of 
Palmas. About two hours within the night, we doubled 
the greatest point of these islands. The next morning, which 
was the 23d, we found ourselves separated from Captain 
Michael and Captain Rose ; and then it was we took a resolu- 
tion of attempting to cross over the continent, to the end we 
might get into the South Sea : in order to which, we sailed to 
the Bay of the Isle d'Or, which is inhabited by the Indians of 
Sambes,that so we might know of tkem (who were our friends) 
what success the other freebooters met with, who, we had been 
told, were gone thither some months before. 

From the 23d at night to the 24th, we kept to the cape, 
being afraid of entering into the Gulf of Arian ; and that morn- 
ing, by break of day, we made nearer the shore, to discover 
where we were, and upon trial we found it to be a point of the 
wind in that gulf, which the currents made us to double. 

Between this gulf and Cape Matance, happened a very re- 
markable adventure. We had on board our ship a soldier be- 
longing to the Spanish galleons, whom we had taken to wind- 
ward of Carthagena, in one of the periaugues, whereof we 
found the maize before spoken of, who out of despair to find 
himself made a prisoner, though he was very kindly used, took 
a resolution, as appeared by what followed, to throw himself 
into the sea, to which end he went five or six times upon deck 
without being able to put his design in execution, and that in 
all likelihood out of a secret resistance he found within him- 
self to do it ; but at last, after several attempts, he effected the 
same, which exciting my curiosity to inquire into the circum- 
stances thereof, I found that, contrary to what usually happens 
in such cases, the body which fell down with full force into 
the water, floated a long time upon the back, by the ship's side, 
though to our apprehension he did all he could to drown him- 
self ; but when out of compassion, to save his life, we threw 
out some of our tackle for him to catch hold on, he not only 
refused to make use of them, but turned himself upon his face, 
and plunged to the bottom. 

On the 25th, at eleven in the morning, we arrived and 
anchored at the Isle d'Or, or Golden Island, and at the same 
time fired a gun to give the Indians' notice of our coming. 
Then we went ashore, to know what that flag was we discov- 
ered at a distance from us, where we found three men belong- 
ing to Captain Grognier and Captain Lescuier's crews, who told 
us that they tarried there because they would not go with the 
other freebooters, who were on their journey to the South Sea, 
under the conduct of those two captains ; and that as soon as 
28 



326 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ever they saw us, they had set up that flag, as a signal for us to 
come up to them. 

On the 26th came some Indians, with letters, on board 
us, which were directed to the first freebooters that should 
anchor in that road, to give them notice that they were 
gone, to the number of a hundred and seventy men, to that 
sea, and some small time before them, a hundred and fifteen 
English ; besides which, they also sent us some instructions 
how to demean ourselves towards the Indians through whose 
territories we must pass, wherewith we were fully confirmed in 
the project we had already formed of undertaking this expedi- 
tion. And though we were but fourscore and seven men, yet 
we made ourselves ready to be gone. In the mean time, some 
other Indians came also on board lis, by whom we were in- 
formed that Captain Grognier and Captain Lescuier were still 
in their territories, and not yet gone to the South Sea, which 
made us write to them by one of those two Indians, to let them 
know that we were coming to them. 

On the 27th, at noon, we saw Captain Michael, and 
Captain Rose, turn into the same port, which made us go 
presently on board, to know what made them come in and an- 
chor in that road. They told us they had been in chase of a 
Spanish ship named the Hardy, come from St. Jago, on the 
coast of Cuba, and bound for Carthagena ; but not being able 
to come up with her, they were come into this port, as being 
the nighest, to take in water. Then we showed them the let- 
ters we had received, which wrought a desire in many of them 
to come and increase our number, insomuch that a hundred 
and eighteen men quitted Michael's ship, and the. whole crew 
of Captain Rose, being sixty-four men, who burnt their vessel, 
when they had paid the owners the price of it. We were not 
then for delaying, but, on the 29th, quitted our ships and 
and went ashore, where we encamped to the number of two 
hundred and sixty-four persons. But as to the ship belonging 
to our particular crew, we left her in the hands of Captain 
Michael, rather than burn her. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 327 

CHAPTER LI. 

Our Passage across the Continent of America, to go to the South Sea. 

Sunday, the 1st of March, in the year 1685, after we had 
recommended ourselves to. the Almighty's protection, we set 
out under the command of Captain Rose, Captain Picard, and 
Captain Desmarais, with two Indian guides, and about forty 
more of that nation, whom we took along with us for the ease 
of those who were most burdened among us. We could not 
travel above three leagues that day, and encamped by a river 
side, after we had passed through a country that presently dis- 
covered a terrible aspect to us, and then proved very difficult to 
travel in, because of the mountains, precipices, and impenetra- 
ble forests, whereof it is full. And the difficulty of the jour- 
ney was still the more increased by the great rains that fell all 
the next day. To say nothing that in our ascending the moun- 
tains, which are of prodigious height, we were clogged with the 
weight of our ammunition, arms, and other iron tools we car- 
ried with us. Upon our coming down upon these mountains, 
we got into a plain, which, though it was without any tracts, 
or ways, yet appeared very easy to us ; but that we were 
obliged no less than four and forty times, in the space of but 
two leagues, to cross the same river, which, because it ran be- 
tween very slippery rocks, gave us a great deal of trouble to 
get over it, being always in danger of falling. 

On the 4th we lay in an Indian carbet, which is a spacious 
sort of a lodging, but almost like a barn, wherein the people 
are wont to meet together ; there we staid next day to go a 
hunting, where we found great numbers of deer, and all sorts 
of birds. Amongst others we saw a kind of animal which the 
Indians call manipouryes, and we trefoil, because as they go 
along, each of their feet leaves the print of this simple in the 
ground. This animal is as big as a small bullock, but his hair 
is not so long, and more sleek. His legs are short, he has the 
head of an ass, but a sharper nose, and walks in the bottom 
of the water, as well as on dry land. They have here also a 
sort of hogs, which they call vents, because of an opening place 
they have in the form of a navel upon their backs. We may 
further take notice of those beasts they call agoutils and ovis- 
titils, which both*the one and the other of them are very like 
those we call Indian pigs in France, but much bigger. The 
monkeys of this country are almost as big as sheep, live in 



32S THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

forests, and seldom come down from the trees, where they 
always find their food. They are so hardy, that though you 
shoot them with a fusil in the head, or through both shoulders, 
they shall not fall to the ground ; and many times for all what 
you can do, they have so much cunning in their fall, as to twist 
their tails, which are very long, about the branch of a tree, where 
they hang and waste away, without any possibility of coming 
at them, because they generally make choice of the tallest trees 
for the places of their retreat. 

I cannot without smiling call to mind what I have done to 
one of these animals, which, after I had made several shots at 
him with my fusil, that carried off part of his belly, insomuch 
that his guts came out, held himself, by one of his paws, or 
hands, (if you will,) by the branch of a tree, while he put his 
entrails with the other into that part of his belly that still re- 
mained whole. 

There was another of them whom I shot with a small bullet 
across his nose, and who, finding himself blinded with the blood 
that gushed out, had so much industry as to wipe it off with 
the leaves of the tree whereon he stood. Here also we found 
harats, which are a sort of birds as big again as parrots, to whom 
they are very lilce, even to the note they have ; but their feath- 
ers are infinitely more fine, for their wings and tail, which is 
very long, are of so lively and bright flaming color, that you 
cannot for some time fix your eye upon them without being 
dazzled. Here we saw those fowls called oecos, which are 
pretty like unto our Indian turkey-hens, but with this differ- 
ence, that they have a small tuft of feathers upon their heads, 
that resembles a cock's comb, and a round of yellow about their 
eyes. They differ from one another in color, the male's feath- 
ers being inclinable to red, whereas the female's are blackish, 
but are never found asunder. Their partridges are larger than 
our Europeans, and their flesh is whiter, but not so good, and 
their note is different from ours. As to their pheasants, they 
are smaller than those in Europe, and their flesh nothing near 
so palatable, but their note is much the same. Besides these, 
there are in this country a multitude of other birds, with whose 
names I think it needless to swell this journal, because, as the 
islands of America are full of them, there is already an exact 
account given of them in those relations that have been made 
of these countries, and it is enough that I give a description of 
such as are not to be found in these islands, or of another kind. 
Yet I shall say this further, that lizards breed here in abun- 
dance, and there are different sizes of them. They are animals 
that resemble pretty nearly those whom we call cayements, of 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 329 

whom I shall have occasion to speak hereafter. Their flesh is 
good to eat, and their eggs, which are as big as pigeons' eggs, 
have an excellent taste, and are much better than our hens' 
eggs. This hunting bout was a great relief to us, against that 
hunger we had endured, because it was the first repast we had 
met with since our journey; but this I reckoned nothing in 
comparison of the miseries which we were to suffer in a vast 
number of other adventures. 

At last, after six days' painful and wearisome travelling, even 
beyond all that can well be imagined, we got to the river which 
the Indians and Spaniards-call Boeca del Chica, that discharges 
itself into the South Sea. 

On the 7th, the Indians of that place carried us to see 
trees that were proper to make our canoes of, in order to get 
down that river into the South Sea. We presently fell to work 
upon' them with our utensils and iron tools, which we had 
brought along with us, after we had agreed with the captains 
of these Indians for furnishing us in the mean time with vic- 
tuals, which consisted in maize, potatoes, bananoes, and mag- 
nioi roots, till we had done our work, upon condition that we 
gave them cloth, knives, thread, needles, pins, scissors, hatchets, 
bills, combs, and such like small wares, which are in great es- 
teem with them; though the savages are not ignorant of the 
advantage that doth arise to them from these things. 

It was partly with these toys that we lived, and kept a good 
correspondence with them during our passage through their 
country ; but what made the conjuncture still more favorable 
unto us, was the resentment they had at that time of the ill 
usage they had received at the hands of the Spaniards, against 
whom they were so incensed, that they begged our assistance 
. to be revenged on them. And had it not been for this, it would 
have been a very difficult task for us, if not impossible, to cross 
the country against their will, not only because of their num- 
bers, which made them infallibly much stronger than we, but 
also by reason of the many forests and difficult passages their 
country is encumbered with, which we could not have gone 
through without we had some of themselves for our guides. 
But for all this, we did not think ourselves so safe amongst 
these men, but that we kept continually upon our guard, be- 
cause we were well assured they were such wretches, as were 
at the service always of those that gave them most ; and that 
though they appeared one minute to be our friends, they might 
become the next the Spaniards', who are nearer neighbors tc 
them. Their treacherous dealings have proved fatal to some 
freebooters, who have put too much confidence in them. When 
28* 



330 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

a small number of them were passing through their country, 
these people gave notice thereof to the Spaniards, and that they 
might give an exa*ct account of their number, they took them in 
a defile, and as they marched along, they put a corn of maize 
into a calabash for every man that passed by, and when they 
had done, carried the calabash to the enemy, who thereupon 
took their measures accordingly. 

There is no sign of religion or of the knowledge of God 
amongst them, they holding that they have communion with 
the devil ; and in short, when they would know any thing, 
they spend the night in the woods in order to consult him ; 
and they sometimes foretold us some things, that have been 
true in the event in every particular circumstance of the rela- 
tion they had given us. They lead a wandering and vagabond 
life, and fix their abode in no certain place. They generally 
erect their ajaupas or barracks upon a river side, where they 
continue till they have spent what sustenance they find there- 
abouts, and when this is done, they go and do the same things 
upon another river, and in this manner spend the term of their 
miserable lives. They go naked, except, it be that they cover 
a part of their privities with a bit of silver or gold that is made 
like a candle extinguisher ; and were I but satisfied that they 
had ever seen such a thing, I should think they took their 
model from it. 

When they feast, or hold other solemn meetings, they put on 
a cotton robe, all of one piece, and it is usual with them, in a 
vaunting manner, to have a bit of gold or caracolay of an oval 
form hanging at their nose, which is bored through, and with 
this they think themselves as fine as any in the world. As 
for the women kind, they cover themselves from the waist 
downwards with an herb or cotton cloth, which they make 
themselves; and that they may appear finer, they color their 
faces with roccou, which is a small grain that dyes a 
brown red. 

On the 22d, as we had finished the building of our canoes, 
we had news brought us by an Indian, who was returned from 
conducting the one hundred and fifteen English before spoken 
of to the South Sea, whither they were gone before us, that 
they had taken, under the command of Townsley, their captain, 
two ships, laden with provision, coming from Lima. He brought 
along with him a man of Captain Grognier's crew, who was 
lost in the woods a hunting, while his comrades were making 
their canoes in the same river where we were building ours. 

On the 28th, we received news again by an Indian captain, 
who had conducted Captain Grognier, and Captain Lescuier 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 331 

into the South Sea, in a letter which they sent us, that they 
would stay for us at King's Islands, and desired us to lose no 
time, but to come and -have our share in taking of the fleet of 
Peru, which they waited for. But for all the expedition we 
could use, our canoes could not be finished before the last of 
March, when we drew them into the river. 

April 1st, we parted with fourteen canoes, carrying about 
twenty oars apiece, guided by twenty Indians, who made use 
of this opportunity in order to participate of the booty which 
they thought we were about to take from the Spaniards, as 
soon as ever we got again into the South Sea. 

We rested, on the 4th, to tarry for our men, who were 
behind, and to mend our canoes that were damnified by the 
rocks and flats we met with all along that river. It cannot be 
believed what pains we had to bring them to the great water, 
(as I may call it,) for we met with places where they rested 
dry, so that we were in a manner forced to carry them. This 
day died one of our men of the bloody flux, which was very 
rife amongst us, because we were forced to fast so long, and 
by reason of the hard feeding we had, and our continual dab- 
bling in the water. 

On the 5th, we put on, and about evening found the river 
deeper, but so full of, and encumbered with, trees, which the 
floods had carried thither, that our canoes were in danger every 
minute to be lost ; and this day died two of our men. 

On the 6th, we got to the great water, where the river is 
wider and deeper ; and that day we spent on the banks of it 
to dry our sacks, which were wet through with the great rains 
that fell the day before. Another of our men died this day. 

From hence to the 11th, we did all we could to get quickly 
to the mouth of the river, where we were informed by an 
Indian that was come in a small vessel to meet us, that the 
English and French freebooters had sent ashore, in a little bay 
called Bocca del Chica,. (that stands at the mouth of that river,) 
some corn for our refreshment, when we should get down 
thither ; for they could gather very well by themselves, who 
had been so straitened there for provisions, whereabouts we 
must be ; and indeed we had so little, that we were reduced 
to a handful of raw maize for each man a day. 

The same day we received further news, and by other In- 
dians, who gave our guides notice to tell us, that a thousand 
Spaniards being informed of our descent, mounted up along 
this 'river by land, with a design to lay an ambuscade for us. 
Hereupon we resolved not to stir, but in the nighttime, and 
that without noise, that so we might shun them ; and this 



332 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

succeeded accordingly. But we fell into another encumbrance 
and that was, we being strangers in this country, and knowing 
no more than our guides how high the tide flowed in this 
river, we were surprised with the coming in of it, and it drove 
us and our canoes very far, so that one of them was overset 
with a great tree that had fallen into the river, and upon which 
the swiftness of the current threw it, but it luckily fell out that 
no one was drowned ; they quitted, it for the arms and ammu- 
nition that were lost; which could not but work some trouble 
in us, to see our men disarmed in a country where we could 
not go, but must have much use for them ; but to deliver us 
of this inquietude, God was pleased to dispose of some of us, 
who left their arms to those that had lost their own. 

When we got clear of these dangers, our guides advised us 
to row gently, for fear the Indian Spaniards, who were our 
enemies, should hear us, and who lay in wait to attack us, 
some leagues this side the mouth of the river, in a place called 
Lestocada. We took their council, and when we were got over 
against the said place, where the river is very broad, we disposed 
of our canoes in such a manner, that by the favor of the night 
they appeared to be much less than they really were. Now 
these Indian Spaniards having some glimpse of us, asked who 
was there; and our guides having answered, that what they 
saw was nought but a few boats belonging to them, with which 
they were going to fetch salt into the South Sea ; by this wile 
we were spared the labor of engaging with those rascals. 

On the 12th, in the morning, we cast anchor, because the 
tide came in, and was against us, and about ten made ready, 
but towards noon the heavens were overcast to that degree, 
that you could scarce see a man from one end to the other ; 
and this was followed with such excessive rains, that we were 
afraid every minute of being sunk, though we employed two 
men in each canoe continually to throw out the water; and 
during that time one of our men died. 

The same day at midnight we got to the mouth of the river, 
and entered into the South Sea, from whence we made directly 
for the Bay of Bocca del Chica, to see for the provision which 
we were told was there, and which we found accordingly ; but 
before this, we met with a canoe of Captain Grognier that waited 
for us, and two barks at anchor. They had been purposely 
sent by the English, both to tow our canoes to the place where 
the freebooters were, and to bring us more provision. 

On the 13th, in the morning, we carried our sick on board 
the two barks for their better accommodation, and then weighed 
anchor, in order to sail all together to an island four leagues 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 333 

distant from the mouth of that river, where we refreshed our- 
selves two days with the provision the English had sent us, 
which was a mighty comfort to us. 

On the 16th, we went oif in order to find out the English 
and French fleet, whose rendezvous was to cruise either before 
Panama, or at the King's Islands, which are not far from this 
river. 

We arrived at those islands on the 18th, which stand thirty 
leagues to the east of Panama, where we found the largest of 
them to look more like the continent than an island, so spacious 
and mountainous is it. The same is inhabited by those negroes 
whom they call marons, or fugitives from the Spaniards, who, 
upon making their escapes from their masters at Panama, and 
the adjacent places, have made this a place of refuge. This 
day one of our men died. 

We entered into this sea at a very bad time, for about this 
height, there are some years wherein it rains every day for 
the space of six months, and we happened to come thither 
exactly at such a season. 

I should think it would have been proper in this place, before 
I proceeded to give a relation of our adventures, to give a large 
and exact description of the South Sea, and this fourth part of 
the world, with which it is washed, and to set forth the longi- 
tude and latitude of the places. But as it is my design to write 
of nothiag but what was transacted by us there, and that this 
country is well enough discovered by the geographical charts 
that have been made of it, let the reader, when he has occasion 
to be informed herein, have recourse to them. I shall content 
myself with taking notice only, that all the continent that 
respects the South Sea, stands E. and W., and most of the 
islands N. and S. of it ; and that it runs from E. and S. E. to 
S. and S. W. ; and from the W. to W. N. W. and to the N. W. 

The Spaniards are the only foreigners that possess these 
countries, since the unjust usurpation they have made of them 
from the aborigines, over whom they made themselves masters 
by such tyrannical and cruel methods as have been heard of 
throughout the world. They have good towns upon the sea- 
side, which reach from the height of the Islands of Don Fer- 
nandez, that are situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Magellan, 
or rather from Chili, to the middle of a strait that is between 
the terra firma and the Isles of California, which the Spaniards 
call Mar Bermejo, through which it is believed a communication 
may be had between the Northern and Southern seas, without 
going about by the Strait of Anien. The chief of these towns 
begin from the south,- and are Arica, Sagna, Nasca, Pachacama, 



334 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

Lima, Cidade de los Reys, the port of Callao, (which is the 
place of embarking for this last, and where the king of Spain's 
ships anchor, that is, the fleet of Pern,) Trnxillo, Paha, Q,uea- 
qnilla, La Barbacoa, (which is an open mine, from whence the 
Spaniards get a great deal of gold,) Panama, llealegno, Tecoan- 
tepequa, Acapulco, and several others, that are as well maritime 
as inland places. 

It is about ten years since the Spaniards, who dwell on all 
this continent, have not known what war was. Here they 
lived in a profound tranquillity, and fire-arms was hardly in any 
use amongst them. But since the time that we found out a 
way to go and visit them, they brought the Englishmen from 
Jamaica amongst them. But though they have a pretty many 
of them at present there, yet the sequel of this discourse will 
show they are not much more warlike than they were before. 
But the white Indians that inhabit a part of Chili have been 
always their enemies ; and these are a people of prodigious 
bulk and tallness. who almost infest them with continual war, 
and when they happen to take any of them, they take off the 
plate of their breasts, as we do by a tortoise, and cut out their 
hearts. 

On the 22d, which was Easter day, their fleet, who were 
gone before us into these seas, arrived at the King's Isle?, 
where we were. They consisted of eight sail, which, to- 
gether with the two barks they had sent to wait for our 
arrival, made up in all ten vessels ; of which take the following 
account : — 

The first served as admiral, and was a frigate carrying thirty- 
six guns, commanded by one Captain David. 

The next was instead of vice admiral, had sixteen guns, and 
was under the command of one whose name was Sammes. 

The third and fourth were two ships commanded by Captain 
Townsley. 

The fifth was a ship that could have carried thirty guns, but 
had none, and was commanded by Captain Grognier. 

The sixth was a small ship commanded by Brandy. 

The eighth was a long bark commanded by a quarter-master, 
with a detachment of men drawn out of the fleet. 

And the ninth and tenth were the two barks that came to 
meet us, whereof the one was commanded by Peter Henry, 
and the other by a quarter-master. 

Of all these commanders, Captain Grognier was the only 
Frenchman, all the rest being Englishmen, except David, who 
was a Fleming. As to the whole number of our men, they 
were computed at about eleven hundred, when they divided 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 335 

into two fleets. It remains therefore now that I should say, 
according to the information I have received from all that were 
engaged in this enterprise, how all these ships fell into their 
hands, by what means, and at what time, they came into this sea. 

In pursuance therefore to the order before observed, I am to 
declare that the English were the owners of our admiral, who 
in the year 1682, on the coast of St. Domingo, surprised a long 
bark belonging to a French captain, whose name was Tristan, 
who was then, with some of his ship's crew, ashore, waiting for 
a fair wind to sail together, to make war upon the Spaniards, 
by commission from Monsieur Povansay, who was then governor 
of that island. The English, who were superior in strength, 
drove the French out of the bark, with which they sailed to 
the Isle de la Tortille, whither a great many ships go every 
year to take in salt. The next thing they did was to take a 
Dutch ship, on which they went all on board, and sailed after- 
wards to the coast of Guinea, where they took several prizes 
more ; but they reserved none of them save the Dutch ship, 
which served as admiral, and wherein they sailed, when we 
left the South Sea, and was supposed to have been a ship be- 
longing to Hamburg. 

These English became pirates under the conduct of a cap- 
tain of their own, and grew so notoriously wicked by a great 
many odious actions, performed not only towards strangers, but 
even those of their own nation, when they met with any of 
them, that, to avoid being chased, which they would infallibly 
have been, they passed from the North to the South Sea, by the 
Straits of Magellan. 

They kept company for about eight months with a little 
frigate of eighteen guns, which they met with there in a short 
time after their arrival, and whose crew consisted of English, 
French, and Flemings. But their good correspondence with, 
the corsair was of no long duration, for happening to have some 
difference with him/as he was one morning giving the other 
the good morrow, according to the English mode, he saw all his 
crew come upon deck ; whereupon the little frigate, who sailed 
much better than the pirate, came up with him, and having 
brought all his guns to bear, gave him a broadside, accompa- 
nied with a volley of small shot, and then bore away, having 
slain the captain and twenty of his men, in whose stead, the 
rest of trie crew chose David, before mentioned. That little 
frigate of sixteen guns got into the South Sea some time after 
the other, as also by the same Straits of Magellan. I was told 
by one of the engineers on board her, that she belonged to his 
royal highness the duke of York; and that, under pretence' 



336 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

of coming to treat with the Spaniards, she was sent upon no 
other account than to take a plan of those parts, the situation 
of the cities and seaports. Now Captain David meeting with 
her, made Captain Sammes come on board him, and threatened 
to take him, unless he would go and make war with him ; so 
that, rinding himself too weak to resist, he chose rather to com- 
ply with the pirate than be taken : and these two together took 
a great many prizes, which, after they had taken out what was 
for their turn, they burnt. 

About a year after, Captain Townsley came over land with 
a hundred and fifteen English into those seas, and, at the King's 
Islands, took two ships laden with provision and other refresh- 
ments, whereof I have already spoken, coming from Peru. 

About a month after, the captains Grognier, and Lescuier, 
went also thither overland with two hundred and seventy men ; 
and who, being informed that the English fleet was before 
Panama, put ashore one night at Tavoga, an island two leagues 
off, from whence they discerned a ship on fire, and by break 
of day they saw the English under sail. 

They went on board them, and came to understand that 
Captain David had taken a ship called the St. Rose, laden with 
corn and wine, bound from Truxillo for Panama; the president 
of which last place had sent him to buy her, and in order there- 
unto, gave him a meeting at the Isles of Pericos, that are a 
league distant from the port. But instead of sending him the 
money they had agreed upon for the ship, he' sent a fire-ship to 
burn him ; but the same, through the cowardice and ignorance 
of the commander, spent herself without doing the other any 
hurt ; and this made Captain David give the St. Rose to 
Grognier and Lescuier's ships' crew, who had already lost their 
captain. 

As for the other five ships, commanded by Brandy, Sammes, 
Peter Henry, and two quarter-masters, they had also been taken 
from the Spaniards in these seas by the two first frigates, who 
reserved them for those who came thither over land. But of 
all our ships, there were none but the first two that had guns ; 
the other eight had none, they having been merchant ships, 
that had made use of none in the South Sea, where nobody 
but themselves had sailed a long time. And now having told 
you what passed before this fleet came together, we shall now 
proceed to give an account of our adventures since our junction. 

On the 25th of April, we took an advice boat, going to the 
fleet of Peru, which was then at anchor in the port of Callao, 
that was carrying some packets from Madrid to Panama, and 
'etters from the viceroy of Lima, wherein there was an account 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 337 

given, how many men-of-war, fire-ships, and merchantmen, the 
fleet consisted of, and about what time the same might arrive 
at Panama. Next day we examined the commander of the 
advice boat, but we could get no particulars out of him, saving, 
that when he saw himself like to be taken, he had thrown the 
king of Spain's packets, and a casket of jewels, overboard. 

On the 27th, we put the same questions to the pilot* who, 
according to the example of his commander, would make no 
discovery, because they had taken an oath together, rather to 
lose their lives than to divulge any secret, or to let the said packet 
fall into the hands of the freebooters. On the 28th, two of our 
men died. 

On the evening of the same day, we departed with two and 
twenty canoes, manned with five hundred men, in order to go 
and take La Seppa, which is a small town seven leagues to 
windward of Panama ; and on the 29th, about ten in the morn- 
ing, we discovered two ships bearing up' to us, which, when 
they came near, we found to be two periaugues, manned with 
Greeks, which are a people composed of divers nations, to 
whom the Spaniards gave this name, and who serve them in 
their wars. These they brought sometime before, from the 
North Sea, to this coast, to defend them against us, because 
they look upon them to be better soldiers than themselves. 
We presently sent out two of our best sailing canoes, manned 
with twenty men each, to attack them. 

These Greeks, who quickly took us to be really what we 
were, i. e. freebooters, made no delay to save themselves upon 
one of those islands that stand on the Bay of Panama ; but 
upon their going ashore, they lost one of their periaugues, that 
split .in pieces, and left us the other ; then they got upon a 
rising ground, with their arms, and as much ammunition as 
they could save, and fought stiffly against us under a flag of de- 
fiance. And as the place where we landed was exposed to 
their fire from the ground where they had posted themselves, 
and that the ascent on that side where we stood was very diffi- 
cult, we were forced to take a great round to come at them 
another way, where we found our passage much easier. At 
last, after we had fought at least for the space of an hour, we 
constrained them to flee for shelter in the woods, took two of 
them prisoners, besides their colors, and found between five and 
thirty slain upon the spot. 

We were informed by the two prisoners, that those who had 

escaped could not be above an hundred men at most ; that we 

might easily master them if we pleased, there being many 

wounded amongst them. They also told us, that they had an 

29 



338 THE BUCCANEEHS OF AMERICA. 

account at Panama of a reenforcement that was come from the 
North Sea to the fleet of freebooters. That the president of 
the town had thereupon sent an advice boat to Lima, to engage 
the viceroy to detain the merchant ships in port till further 
order, and with all speed to send a fleet of men-of-war to fight 
ours, and drive us out of those seas. But the relation given by 
these *wo prisoners we could not rely upon, since their party 
had put up a flag of defiance, they being three times the num- 
ber of us. 

After this advantage, and our rejoicing, with the rest of our 
canoes, we continued to prosecute our design upon La Seppa ; 
but as we were obliged before we could come at it to go about 
two leagues up a very fine and large river of the same name, 
and on whose banks they have vigies sentinels always set, we 
could not choose but be discovered, and find the town alarmed, 
and ready to defend itself. Yet for all that we fell furiously 
on, and^ took it, witli the loss only of one man ; but finding no 
great matter of booty there, because they had saved most of 
their effects, we returned to our canoes again. 

As I shall have frequent occasion to make mention of the 
word vigie, it will not be improper, in this place, to take no- 
tice, that by vigier is no other thing meant than to set a senti- 
nel upon land or sea, and those persons who are thus set they 
call vigies. The Spaniards maintain a great number of them ; 
for all their cities, towns, and villages, and even single houses, 
have persons on purpose, whom they send to all the rising 
ground round about, and river sides, where they have their 
horses ready night and day, so that, as soon as they discover 
an enemy, they hasten to give the Spaniards notice of it, who 
forthwith prepare themselves, not to fight, but to save- their 
effects. 

On the 1st of May we rejoined our ships, who waited for 
us at a very pretty island, called Sippilla, about a league dis- 
tant from the mouth of the River La Seppa, which makes up a 
kind of canal that forms the Bay of Panama, and do, as it were, 
make a bar all along, that divides the channel into two parts, 
one to the east and the other to the west. Those pleasures we 
met with in these parts justly deserve a remembrance, whereof 
I shall give a little description in this place. 

All these islands are so curious and delightful, that they are 
usually called the Gardens of Panama, and with very good rea- 
son, seeing all people of note in that city have each of them 
one of these islands for themselves, and their houses of pleasure 
there, also, with curious orchards, watered with a great many 
springs of running waters, adorned and embellished with a 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 339 

wonderful variety of flowers and arbors of jessamine up and 
down, and full almost of an infinite number of all sorts of the 
fruits of the country, among whom I have taken particular 
notice of four of them, which are called sappota, sappotilla, 
avocata, and las cayemites. 

The first is a fruit almost like unto our pears, of a different 
size, whose rind is greenish, and contains, in the midst thereof, 
two kernels of an oval form, appearing pretty polished and 
sleek, and are each of *them, in the largest of these fruits, some- 
what bigger than an ordinary nut. When this fruit is ripe, it 
is very soft, and. when the paring is taken off, the pulp is of a 
pure red color, very sweet, and. of an admirable taste. 

The second is of the same form as the other, but no bigger 
then a russet pear. It has an admirable taste, and under the 
rind is of a whitish color. 

The third is of the same form as our quinces, saving that the 
rind is greener. This fruit must be fully ripe, and very soft, 
before it becomes good food, and then it is that you find the 
pulp of it as white as snow. The Spaniards eat it with 
spoons, as we do cream, and indeed the taste thereof is mostly 
the same. 

The fourth is like a large damson, and very savory. 

Besides these, and a great many more wherewith this coun- 
try is peculiarly blessed, it produces also a great many of those 
fruits that are common to Europe, as apricots, pomegranates, 
goyaves, juniper, cocoa, bananas, figs of Provence, French and 
Spanish melons, all sorts of oranges, citrons, and lemons, of 
which I shall give no description, no more than of the trees 
that bear them ; but those who would satisfy their curiosity 
herein, may do it in. reading the History of the Antilles, writ- 
ten by Monsieur De Rochefort, in the year 1668, who was 
skilled therein, and gives a very good account of them. All 
these rich presents of fruits and pure water, of which Nature 
made us an offer in these islands, were a wonderful relief to us, 
after these fatigues we had undergone in our passage over the 
continent, to say nothing of the plentiful harvest we. had of 
maize and rice, wherewith we found these islands covered, and 
which the Spaniards, I believe, did not sow with an intention 
we should enjoy them. But these same islands, that afforded 
us so many delights, wrought also afterwards some sorrow in 
us, of which by and by. 

On the 8th of May, in the morning, we sailed away, and 
passed by the old and new city of Panama. The old one was that 
takeu by General Morgan, in the year 1670, whose churches and 
houses seemed to us to be finely built, as far as we could judge 



340 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

of them at such a distance. There is none hut the new towr. 
that is fortified, being defended with a good wall and several 
other works, but that is only to the seaward. This city is 
attended with an inconveniency, that as it is situated at the 
bottom of a bay, and that the sea ebbs very much in this coun- 
try, great ships are left dry there, if they anchor nearer than a 
league to the place. We got as nigh it as we could with our 
colors and streamers loose, and from thence went to anchor at 
Tavoga, which appeared to us as if it were a little enchanted 
island, so agreeable and delightful are those houses and gar- 
dens that are upon it. 

On the 9th, we caulked all our ships, and next day sent our 
long bark to cruise, in order to give us notice when the Spanish 
fleet appeared in sight of us ; and on the 13th, we made choice 
of those ships that should engage it. Captain David and Cap- 
tain Grognier were to board the Spanish admiral, Captain Suam 
and Captain Townsley the vice admiral. Captain Peter Henry 
and one of Townsley 's prizes the Patach ; our fire-ship was to 
keep herself under the quarter of our admiral. Our other ships 
were to attack the rest of their fleet according to their strength, 
and our armed periaugues were to keep off the enemies' fire-ships. 

We heard this day a great many cannon fired at Panama, the 
cause whereof we could not guess at ; and on the 14th, we put 
ashore, upon the Island of Tavoga, forty prisoners, who were 
very cumbersome to us, and then weighed, to go wait for the 
fleet at Cape Pin. But this was much out of season, since the 
fleet who was willing to spare us this trouble, as well as that of 
attacking her, was already, without our knowledge of it, ar- 
rived at Panama, having got in under the covert of one of those 
pleasant islands, through one of the two channels, which I said 
was formed by them, and which hid them from us while we 
cruised in the other channel, through which we thought they 
would have sailed. 

As we knew nothing hitherto of this matter, and that, upon 
the return of our long bark, she told us she had discovered no 
ships pass, we went and anchored at Kings Islands, where the 
whole fleet took the usual oath, that we would not wrong one 
another to the value of a piece of eight, in case God were 
pleased to give us the victory over the Spaniards. On the 17th, 
one of our men died. 

On the 19th, we weighed and anchored between the great 
island, and those in the east channel, through which we thought 
the fleet we expected would pass. On the 28th, another of our 
men died. Next day we made ready, and sailed for Cape Pin. 
On the 31st, we gave chase to two ships, whom we lost in the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 341 

• 

night, and which brought us back, in the pursuit of them, to 
the little Islands of Panama, where we anchored on the 1st of 
June; and the same day we surprised two Greeks, upon the 
island, where we had beaten them, when we went to take La 
Seppa. 

On the 4th, we sent two canoes to the Isle of Sipilla, to en- 
deavor to take some prisoners, that we might learn some news 
from them. There they took a ship laden with boards, which 
the Spaniards-were carrying to Panama to build two periaugues 
instead of those we had taken. The men told us, that their 
fleet was got into Panama on the 12th of May ; that on the 
13th, they fired off a great many guns for joy ; and that as soon 
as they were refreshed, careened, and manned, they would put 
out to fight us, and would be ready in a short time. 

On the 7th, at noon, Captain Grognier, who had anchored 
farther from the island than we, gave us a signal, that he des- 
cried the Spanish fleet, consisting of seven sail ; and this he 
did by lowering and raising fiis flag seven times. We also on 
our part made ready, and in doubling the point of the island 
where we had anchored, we discovered seven great ships com- 
ing up towards us, with a bloody flag in the stern, and a royal 
one on her masts. Now it was that the hopes which our crew 
had lost, when they understood the fleet was got into Panama, 
revived again, and the desire they had to enrich themselves, at 
the others' cost, animated them to that degree, that most of 
them threw their hats into the sea, as thinking they had the 
Spaniards already in hold. We put our ships in order, and then 
disputed the wind with them, which was at that time got to 
the west. About three in the afternoon, we all, except Captain 
Grognier, got the weather-gage of them, and he failed, because 
he waited for the coming up of his canoe from the shore, and 
cast about twice. Our admiral, finding himself to windward 
of the Spanish vice-admiral, who was separated from his own 
admiral, gave us the signal to follow him for to board him, in 
order to which, we lengthened our spritsail; but our vice-ad- 
miral took in his flag, as a token he would defer the engage- 
ment till next morning, hoping that Grognier would get the 
weather-gage in the night. Towards sunsetting, the Spanish 
vice-admiral, who was to leeward of us, saluted us with seven 
guns without ball, which was answered by our admiral with a 
whole broadside with ball. But night coming on, the Span- 
iards cast anchor, being better acquainted than we with the cur- 
rents that run between these islands, and they sent a small ves- 
sel, that carried the lantern, to anchor two leagues to leeward 
of us, in order to amuse and cause us to take false measures ; 
29* 



342 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

• 

and indeed we lay by all night, that we might next morning 
be to windward of the lantern, which we took to be the whole 
fleet. 

On the 8th, early in the morning, we discovered onr error, 
and were all of ns strangely amazed to find ourselves to lee- 
ward of the enemies fleet, except Captain Grognier's ship, and 
that of Captain Townsley, and his prize, which were to wind- 
ward. But it unhappily so fell out, that they were ships with- 
out cannon. The Spanish fleet having cast anchor again an 
hour after sunrising, we did all we could to get the weather- 
gage, but their vice-admiral, .who had his anchor a-peak, and 
his sails but very slightly furled, quickly plied to the wind, 
which proving favorable to him, he bore immediately upon our 
adminl. Our vice-admiral did all he could to come to his as- 
sistance, for the Spanish guns had already incommoded him 
very much ; but his coming up obliged the enemies' ships to 
bear off to windward, which we endeavored to gain all that day, 
though to no purpose; while the Spaniards, in the mean while, 
under whose cannon we found ourselves, mauled us terribly; 
and this made our admiral and vice-admiral to keep close to- 
gether, and to resolve to die valiantly fighting, rather than suf- 
fer any one ship of the fleet to be taken, though they could 
both of them have saved themselves if they pleased, they being 
much better sailors than the Spaniards. 

Captain Townsley, towards the afternoon, being to the wind- 
ward of the enemies fleet, sent his periaugue on board our ad- 
miral, to receive his orders, while he that commanded it* had 
both his legs shot off by a cannon ball. About two, the Span- 
iards sent out a ship of eight and twenty guns to hinder Captain 
Grognier to join us, as understanding, by some Spaniards who 
had been our prisoners, that he was the strongest in small arms 
of any in our fleet, and that they were so much the more fear- 
ful of him, when they came to know his crew consisted of 
Frenchmen. At last, finding ourselves' towards evening much 
battered with their cannon, (for the Spaniards would not come 
to boarding,) we veered, by the favor of a gale of wind, to go 
and board the Spanish vice-admiral, that was the best sailor, 
and did us most harm. But we were no sooner unmoored, than 
the wind came about, which did us much damage; for we 
were just come upon the enemies' ship, who not observing the 
wind, by which we sailed, bore still upon us, so far, that when 
we returned the second time, she was so near us, that she was 
constrained to furl the end of her mainsail, for fear of bringing 
her foremast upon our counter; and this made us put out our 
canoes, which were upon the tow, that we might go bet- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 343 

ter, and in this manner we defended ourselves till night ap- 
proached. 

Peter Henry's ship, wherein I was, having received ahove 
a hundred and twenty cannon shots, was forced to make the 
best of her way, which our admiral and vice-admiral perceiving, 
they put their periangues under sail, which they had all along 
braced to windward during the fight, in order to attend us, be- 
cause they saw we were in an ill condition. The enemy, ob- 
serving our working, sent one of their small ships in pursuit of 
us, but as we bore back upon her, she gave us eighteen guns, 
and rejoined their own fleet. 

Our long bark, having, during the action, been sorely 
handled, her crew was forced to leave her, and not having time 
to sink her, threw some guns, which our admiral had put on 
board her, into the sea, and then saved themselves on board of 
one of our other ships. Now the Spanish prisoners, whom we 
left behind, finding they were now at liberty, plied to put them- 
selves into the hands of the Spanish admiral, but he, taking 
this bark for our fire-ship, sunk her with his cannon before 
she came near him, not thinking their own people were on 
board her. 

On the 9th, we could see neither our own nor the Spanish 
fleet, which made us steer for the Isle St. John de Cueblo, four 
and twenty leagues to the west of Panama, where, by the 
favor of an easterly breeze, we arrived on the 14th : we ran 
ourselves presently ashore, and it was high time, for we had 
all along, from the time of the fight, five foot of water in the 
hold. We lost no time to put ourselves in a condition to get 
up again before Panama, that we might know what became of 
our fleet, about which we were in great pain, which we were 
put out of on the 26th, when we saw them coming to an an- 
chor in the same place where we were, who told us they did 
not fight any more after our departure from them. That the 
Spanish fleet, upon the 9th, in the evening, had anchored within 
cannon shot of ours, and that, both the one and the other hav- 
ing made ready on the 10th, the Spaniards sailed away for the 
port of Panama. That Captain David had been hard plied by 
the Spanish cannon, especially with two shots that carried off 
half his rudder, but that he had no more than six of his ship's 
crew wounded, and only one killed ; that Captain Sammes was 
no less put to it-; that almost all his poop was swept off, that 
he had received several shots between wind and water; that his 
male had his head shot off with a cannon ball, and that he had 
no more than three men wounded. And that, in short, the 
other lesser vessels had not lost a man, and had but very few 



344 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

wounded. Here I may truly say, and without exasperating 
the matter, that it was a strange thing, and next to a miracle, 
that we, who were so few in number, and had such pitiful ships 
of our own, should be able to bear the fire of, withstand, and 
fight, so considerable a fleet, in comparison of our own, consist- 
ing of such good ships, and manned so well as that of the Span- 
iards' were, whose admiral was a vessel of seventy guns, though 
she had but fifty-six mounted, because she was too old. Their 
vice-admiral had forty, though she was bored to carry sixty 
guns : she was a very fine ship, and an excellent sailor, but also 
old. The Patach was a vessel of forty guns, though she had 
no more than eight and twenty mounted. The Conserve had 
eighteen guns, but was built, as well as the Patach, to carry 
forty. The other three were almost as big ; besides they had 
the advantage of fire-ships, on board of which they had planted 
cannon, to the end that we might not take them to be really 
what they were, and that so they might come near, and the 
more easily surprise us, than if we were aware of them. 

If we had met with this fleet, as we were in hopes we should, 
before they got an addition of strength in Panama, or that wc 
had had but only the wind of them, when we attacked them, 
I do not question but things would have appeared with another 
face than now they did, and that we should have possessed 
ourselves of their ships to bring us back through the straits, 
with wealth enough to live at ease, which would have freed us 
all at once, after a continued succession of fatigues and trou- 
bles, which we were forced to go through for three years longer, 
as well in those places as in our return over land to the North 
Sea, but divine Providence had otherwise ordered it. 

On the 29th. we parted from the Isle of St. John, to the num- 
ber of three hundred men, in five canoes, in order to go and 
surprise the town of Pueblo Nuevo, that was six leagues otf. 
thinking we should get some provision there, whereof now we- 
began to be in need. Being landed on the 31st, we took a sen- 
tinel, but another escaped, which was the occasion of our being 
discovered. We were obliged, in order to get at this towny to 
go up a very fine river two leagues, and to make use of the 
flowing of the tide for that purpose. Before we came at it, we 
found a retrenchment made for its security, but ill guarded. 
Trje town is none of the best situated, though it stands upon 
the river side, being surrounded every way with marshes. We 
found neither people nor victuals there, and so we left it on the 
3d of July ; and next day, as we returned with our canoes to 
rejoin our fleet, we gave chase to a bark, which we took, and 
»n the 5th, we got to our ships. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 345 

The English and we had a difference in the descent we made 
upon this town, for they, being more numerous than we, would 
take the advantage of us, and be masters of the whole, and that 
so far, that Captain Townsley would have taken Captain Grog- 
nier's ship away, which Captain David had given him, and give 
him his own for her ; but as he found he had to do with men, 
who, though inferior in number, would not tamely be'thus put 
upon, he was forced to give over his pretensions ; yet we find- 
ing still that they continued to pretend to the same dominion 
over us, we separated ourselves from them to the number of 
a hundred and thirty Frenchmen, without reckoning Captain 
Grognier's crew, who were two hundred more, and, after hav- 
ing banded ourselves apart, we landed upon the island. 

One of the chief reasons that made us disagree, was their 
impiety against our religion ; for they made no scruple when 
they got into a church to cut down the arms of a crucifix with 
their sabres, or to shoot them down with their fusils and pistols, 
bruising and maiming the images of the saints with the same 
weapons, in derision to the adoration we Frenchmen paid unto 
them. And it was chiefly from these horrid disorders that the 
Spaniards equally hated us all, as we come to understand by 
divers of their letters that fell into our hands, which I have got 
rendered into French, as may be seen by and by. 

On the 9th, the English weighed, and came to anchor about 
five or six leagues to leeward of the place where we were build- 
ing our canoes, to fit up others for themselves in lieu of those 
they had lost as well as we, during the fight with the Spanish 
fleet. We laid out for trees fit for our purpose, and to that end 
went into a wood, which in these parts grows near to the sea, 
of which we chose the largest, which commonly are those trees 
called mapoit, and acajou, and are withal very tender and easy 
to be wrought ; among them we found some so large, that the 
single trunk, after being hewn and made hollow, could carry 
fourscore men. 

While we were building our canoes, a sentinel, whom we 
had set on a very high tree, growing on the sea-side, in our 
island, as well for discovering lest the English, who knew we 
were employed about our canoes, should come to take away our 
ship, as to observe if any Spanish ship should sail between the 
main land and the island whereon we were, came to tell us, on 
the 15th, that he saw a ship out at sea, steering S. W. and by W., 
which put us presently upon making ready to come up with 
her. We found her to be a small vessel, commanded by Cap- 
tain Willnet, an Englishman, whose crew consisted of forty 
English and eleven Frenchmen, of whom we had, never heard 



S46 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

any thing till now. But they told us, they had a long time 
ago passed over land into these seas, and that lately they had 
taken a ship laden with corn, out of the port of Sansonnat, 
which is on the continent, and the place of embarking from 
Quatimala, thirty leagues to the east of the Isle of St. John ; and 
that going from thence towards the south coast, they understood 
that the' viceroy of Lima had sent a Spanish fleet, on purpose 
to chase and beat the freebooters, which gave them to under- 
stand there were others besides them in these seas ; and that 
upon the good news they were come in quest of us, in order to 
have a share in taking ofthat fleet, which they believed infal- 
lible, but that they understood, when they came before Pana- 
ma, where they were in hopes to meet with us, that the fight 
was already over, and that we were gone to the Isle of St. John. 
The other English, who, as I have already said, were gone to 
anchor about five or six leagues to windward of us, had also 
sent out a canoe to know what this bark was, which came up 
with her as soon as we, and this made us very uneasy; for, 
this bark being laden with provision, those English influenced 
these new comers so far, that they took them to anchor in the 
same place where they were, except the eleven Frenchmen, 
who left them and staid with us. 

This Island of St. John Cueblo is about twelve leagues in 
2ircumference, standing east and west, and north and south, 
five leagues distant from the main land, and separated by a 
narrow channel, (which is, indeed, no other than an arm of the 
sea running in between two lands.) It is not inhabited, 
very mountainous, full of wood, and watered with very fine 
rivers. It stands in no stead to the Spaniards, besides supply- 
ing them with masts for their shipping, which they have here 
in great abundance. When we stopped upon that island, we 
were in hopes to have fared well, so well stocked it was with 
deer, monkeys, agoutills, lizards, and banks full of tortoises ; 
but we were deprived of these advantages by two inconveni- 
ences we labored under ; the first whereof was, that the Eng- 
lish, in less than fifteen days, had made such a destruction of 
these tortoises, that but very few of them landed ; the other 
respected our hunting, which, after we had followed for a few 
days at first, we were bound to decline ; for, having staid in 
this place longer than we designed, we were under a necessity 
of preserving our powder, for fear, should we have spent it, the 
Spaniards would have been quickly upon us, so that we staid 
a whole month upon this island, to the number of three hun- 
dred and thirty men of us, with eating no more than two tor- 
toises, in eight and forty hours, and in seeking some fruits in 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 347 

the woods wherewith to subsist, and with the eating of which 
some of us died, as not knowing the nature of them. 

There are a sort of serpents upon this island, whose stinging 
is so dangerous, that if any one has not a certain fruit by him, 
which he is to chew, and presently to apply to the wound, there 
is no escaping present death for him, as we found by experi- 
ence, by some of our men whom we lost in this manner, and 
who, in their dying, endured terrible pains, through the activ- 
ity and violence of that fire which this poison kindled in their 
bodies. The tree, on which this fruit grows, is to be found 
upon the same place, as well as in the other parts of this country, 
being, as to its leaves and height, very like unto our almond- 
trees ; but its fruit resembles sea-chestnuts, though it is of a 
grayish color, and of a somewhat bitter taste, enclosing a whit- 
ish almond in the midst thereof. It is chewed altogether before 
the application is made, and is known by no other name than 
the serpent's seed. 

Here, also, about two or three leagues up the country, you 
have a great many cayemans, which are a kind of crocodiles, 
that live both in the sea, rivers, and on dry land, and are of 
that ravenous nature, that some of our men have been devoured 
by them. 

On the 27th, the English, who had left us, sent a quarter- 
master to us, to know whether we would join ourselves with 
them, as supposing they were too weak, to go and take the 
towii of Leon, on which they had formed a design. And here 
we must acknowledge, that extreme misery is so terrible a 
thing, that it is almost impossible, when an opportunity presents 
itself of being delivered, that it should be let slip, notwithstand- 
ing all the repugnancy of our reason to the contrary. We had 
left the English by reason of their impieties, which we could 
not endure, and now we were ready to comply with the pro- 
posals they had made us of rejoining them again. The provis- 
ion was on their side, and this was a charming bait for people 
that were ready to perish with hunger. We presently asked 
them for some victuals ; and as we had but one ship, that could 
not hold us all, that they should give us another, because we 
were not willing to be dispersed on board their ships, as before; 
but this they would not agree to. In the mean while, as we 
were resolved not to recede herefrom, famine forced thirty of 
our men to join themselves with the English, as being unable 
to bear with the fasts we were forced to keep. And on the 4th 
of August, four of our men died. 

On the 9th, when we knew the English were gone, we em- 
barked, to the number of a hundred and twenty men, on board 



348 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

five canoes, commanded by Captain Grognier, and left two 
hundred on board our ship, and upon the island, whom we or- 
dered to build more canoes, and afterwards to cross over to the 
continent. 

Having made a descent there on the 13th, we came to a hat- 
to, which is a kind of a farm, where the Spaniards breed their 
cattle. It was in the neighborhood of a town called St. Jago, 
which is twenty leagues distant from St. John's Island. The 
people we found in this hatto we made our prisoners, among 
whom was the master, who showed and conducted us to take 
a sugar plantation, in the River of St. Jago, where we were 
discovered. We sounded our prisoners, one after another, in 
order to know whether they understood any thing of our sep- 
aration from the English, by telling them we came from the 
North Sea, and that they should show us where the freeboot- 
ers were, which they said were come into these seas. They 
answered, they were gone to St. John's Island, to repair the 
damage the fleet of Peru had done them, together with other 
circumstances, which we knew better than they, without tell- 
ing us one word of what had happened between the English 
and us. Hence we conjectured they knew nothing of the 
matter, and we could have been very well content that all the 
Spaniards knew as little as they, for fear our disjunction might 
render them more forward to attack us. 

After this intelligence, we despatched away a canoe, which 
we had taken in this river, to carry our men some victuals, 
which we had found in this hatto, and to acquaint them that 
we were going towards Panama, to see whether we might meet 
with an opportunity of seizing some barks, that so we might 
get out of St. John's Island ; because, as I have already said, 
our ship was not big enough to hold us, and that, as soon as 
the canoes were ready, they were to go and take Pueblo 
Nuevo, in order to get some provision, wherewith to subsist till 
our return. 

On the 15th, we went ashore forty leagues to leeward of 
Panama, and, though we had no guide, we got, by cock-crow- 
ing, to a very pretty esta?Uia, as they call it, which was a lone 
house, and where we took fifty prisoners, of both sexes. Among 
these, there was a young man and woman of quality, who prom- 
ised we should have a ransom for them, and whom we carried 
to the Island Ignuana, a league's distance from the great one, 
and where there is no other but rain water to be had, which 
stands in the cavities of the rocks. 

We staid for the fore-mentioned ransom till the 28th, when 
it was duly paid us, and then went off, being first informed that, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 349 

about eight leagues to windward, there was a river, wherein 
were two barks laden with maize, which on the 29th, in the 
morning, we boarded and took. From thence we resumed our 
course to go and rejoin our men in St. John's Island, where we 
arrived on the 3d of September. Here they told us, that a 
hundred of them, whereof ninety-eight were come back, had 
gone on the 25th of the preceding month to Pueblo Nuevo, as 
we had ordered them, where they arrived on the 27th ; and, 
though they were discovered by the sentinels of the town, they 
made themselves masters of it, and staid there two days, for 
all the continual and various attacks made upon them by the 
Spaniards. That the commander of the place came with a 
trumpet to speak with them, and asked why they carried white 
colors, seeing they were English, (so he took them to be,) but 
without satisfying his curiosity in the point, they constrained 
him to be gone from whence he came. That, eight of them 
being gone some distance from the place of arms, there were 
two of the number massacred by a hundred and fifty Spaniards, 
who, seeing so small a company together, bravely fell upon 
them ; but, with all the advantage they had, they could not 
hinder the other six to recover their main guard, who fought 
retreating with extraordinary vigor. 

On the 4th, we put out with six canoes, and a hundred and 
forty men on board, whereof we detached two to go to the 
hatto we had taken on the 11th of August, to look after the 
ransom of the master, whom we kept prisoner, and with the 
other four returned to that sugar plantation in St. Jago, in order 
to get some sugar cauldrons, whereof we had occasion. There 
we were informed that the governor of St Jago came thither, 
after our departure, the first time we took it, with eight hun- 
dred men. We staid in this place till the 9th, expecting the 
answer of a prisoner whom we sent to the governor, and by 
whom we sent him word, that, if he were minded to advance 
with his eight hundred men, we were ready; but, hearing no 
news of him, we departed thence, after our two canoes had re- 
joined us ; and on the 11th, arrived on board our ship and the 
two barks, at the Island of St. John. 

On the 5th, we careened our ships, and took in water and 
wood ; we would have left this island, had it not been for the 
continual rains that fell and lasted eighteen days, and such bad 
weather, that it was impossible for us to appear upon deck, 
having never seen the sun all this time : and for this reason it 
is, that the Spaniards call the distance between the Bay of 
Gurgona and the Island of St. John the droppings of the South 
Sea. You have but four months of good weather here through- 
30 



350 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

out the year, and they are December, January, February, and 
March ; the other eight months are incommoded with great 
rains, which fall almost without any intermission, and which, 
besides the bloody flux it brings, is so pernicious, that if a man 
has been wet with it two or three times, if he do not presently 
shift himself, it breeds large worms between his skin and his 
flesh, in form somewhat like unto a quill, and about half a fin- 
ger long. 

The weather clearing up on the 4th of October, we mended 
our sails, which were almost rotten, and made ready to be 
gone. And the same day we had one of our men stung m 
the leg by a serpent, who died of it presently, as not having 
taken care to provide himself with the remedy we have 
spoken of. 

On the Sth, we made ready and sailed for Realeguo, which 
is both a port and town a hundred and fourscore leagues to the 
west and by north-west of the Isle of St. John, and two hun- 
dred and sixty west of Panama. We had a small south-east 
wind till the 11th, and on the 12th and 13th we steered west- 
north-west, and that evening descried land. On the 14th, we 
had a boisterous south wind, which made us take in all our 
sails, till midnight, and then came a calm till the 17th, when 
towards noon we were surprised with a south-west blast, at- 
tended with great rains, which separated us from our two barks. 
It blew so very hard, that the sea appeared presently very 
frightful, and put us so to it, that we began to be very appre- 
hensive we should be all cast away. But the weather (as God 
would have it) proving fair again, we spent the 19th to set our 
vessel in order, as well as to mend our sails with our shirts and 
drawers, wherewith we were already but very indifferently pro- 
vided. Towards evening we discovered land, and knew it to 
be the Bay of Caldaira, whereof I shall give an account by and 
by. On the 20th, we sailed in sight of that, of Colebra. From 
thence we had moderate weather, and a south-east wind : and 
on the 21st, we got to the height of the Morns, which the 
Spaniards call Papegayas. 

On the 22d, we found ourselves over against Realeguo, a 
place very remarkable for the high mountains that surround it ; 
and especially for a high sulphurous hill that burns continually, 
and whose smoke reaches a great way ; but the tides next night 
put us twenty leagues to windward of it. On the 24th, we 
put- out four canoes, with a hundred men in them, in order to 
take some prisoners, that we might receive some information 
concerning this coast, where we never were before. 

On the 25th, we put to the shore and landed, and after a 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 351 

march of three hours, came to a hatto, where we surprised the 
people, who gave us to understand that the English had taken 
the town of Leon, and burnt that of Realeguo. That the in- 
habitants of Legoria, Granada, Sansonuat, St. Michell, St. Sal- 
vador, and Villa JNneva, which are neighboring towns to the 
two fore-mentioned ones, had sent a considerable reenforcement 
of men to those of the town of Leon, who yet durst not attack 
the English, who staid there three whole days ; during which 
time they had sent several messages to these reinforcements to 
require them to fight in the race savanna, which the other still 
refused, saying, they were not yet all come together ; that is, 
they were hitherto no more than six to one, and that they staid 
till they were doubly increased. 

On the 26th, one of our quarter-masters, who was a Catalo- 
nian by birth, fled to the Spaniards, which hindered us at this 
time from going to take the town of Granada, of which I shall 
speak in its due place, for we did not doubt but that he had 
given them an account of the design we had formed upon 
that place. 

On the 27th, we went on board our canoes again, and made 
for the port of Realeguo, where the rendezvous of our ships 
was to be. We could land nowhere all along the coast, be- 
cause the sea breaks with so much violence there, when it is a 
southerly wind, that it is impossible to come near it. How- 
ever, six of our men swam with a design to fill some casks with 
water, which we were in want of, but they could not do it, for 
the Spaniards followed us by land all along the bank, and so it 
fell out that one of our men was unfortunately drowned. 

On the 1st of November, we arrived at the port of Realeguo, 
where we found our ship at anchor. There are two passages 
to this port, whereof that to windward is best. It is very nar- 
row, and, besides this, has two mornes, or little mountains, that 
form the two points thereof, upon one of which the Spaniards 
had a design to build a fort. There is a very fine river runs 
into this haven, that bears the same name with the town. It is 
safe from any winds, and contains within it five islands that are 
very good to careen ships in ; there are but three leagues from 
thence up the river, before you come at the town. But, before 
we got there with our canoes, we met three very stroug in- 
trenchments, that had been made for its security, upon the river's 
side, about a quarter of a league distant one from another, 
and which the English had half burnt. About a musket shot 
from the town, the Spaniards had very fine docks, where they 
build their ships. It is washed with this river, and stands in a 
very fine country, watered with several other rivulets ; and 



352 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

both its churches and houses, though then half burned, appeared 
to us to have been beautiful enough. We are also further t« 
take notice, that that river we have spoken of has eight arms, 
by which you may conveniently convey any thing to the vil- 
lages, sugar plantations, and hattoes, whereof this country is 
full, and which belongs to the burghers, as well of this town 
as of the neighboring ones, of which Leon, that is not above 
four leagues off, is situated in a very curious plain. On the 
2d, we went to take two of those hattoes, from whence we 
carried some victuals on board for those who were careening 
our ships. 

On the 6th, we departed, to the number of a hundred and 
fifty men, to go and seize the sentinels of the town of Leon, 
and having surprised them on the 8th, they informed us there 
were two thousand men in the place, who, yet not trusting to 
their numbers, had taken all their movables, and carried them 
to a place of safety. We returned on board on the 9th, and 
next day set out to go to a great sugar plantation, two leagues 
distant .from this city, where we arrived at midnight, but found 
no soul living there, the people being gone for their security to 
the town, upon the report that was spread abroad that we had 
taken some sentinels. But as we were upon our return from 
this sugar plantation to go on board again, our vanguard met 
with a detachment of horse, upon whom they fired, and made 
them fly, but the captain was made a prisoner, who, upon our 
questioning of him, told us that he had heard of us a long time 
since, but not knowing what language we spoke, we had been 
taken for a company of two hundred and fourscore mulattoes, 
who were looking out to fight us, knowing we were ashore, 
and who would be at that sugar plantation that evening. We 
asked the captain what they were he had headed, and he an- 
swered they were a troop of horse, who guarded the embarking 
place belonging to that sugar plantation, and that the governor 
of the town, coming to know we were come to the port of 
Realeguo, had given them orders to retire in such a manner, as 
gave us to understand that our enemies kept a very good guard, 
when they had nothing to be afraid of, and that they would 
draw off as soon as ever they saw us near, and, in effect, we 
found them to be exactly the very same as represented to us: 
for, surely, if they had had but any thing of resolution and 
courage, being as numerous as they were in respect to us, they 
could have easily cut us off, as often as we made any descent 
upon them ; and thus many times we found our safety to pro- 
ceed from their cowardice, as much as from our own courage. 

On the 13th, the samp company of a hundred and fifty men 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. • 353 

left our vessels to go to take a borough town, three leagues 
above the city* of Realeguo, whose name was Pneblo Viego. 
We passed through this place, which we found to be quite de- 
serted by its inhabitants, because of the excommunication they 
had thundered out against themselves. 

Some, perhaps, will be surprised to hear of this extravagant 
humor ; but there is nothing truer, than that, when the free- 
booters have several times taken the same place from them, 
their prelates, after excommunicating and cursing the same, 
quit it entirely, and will not bury even their dead, whom we 
killed, as supposing them, for the aforesaid reason, unworthy 
of Christian burial. 

On the 14th, in the morning, we arrived at Pueblo Viego, 
from whence their sentinels had discovered us since the 13th, 
in the evening, so that we found the enemy intrenched in the 
great church, and about a hundred and fifty horse upon the 
place of arms. We presently fell to work, and, after some dis- 
charges, we put them to flight ; but those that were within the 
church held it about half an hour longer, and then made their 
escape through a door that was behind the vestry, which we 
had not secured. We staid a day and a half in this place, and 
carried away all the provisions we could lay hands on, upon 
the horses which we had, and our own backs, and on the 16th 
arrived on board our ship. On the 18th, we returned to take 
an estancia, which was a league and a half from the said town, 
and the master, whom we took prisoner, told us, that, the day 
we weut away, six hundred men lay in ambush for us, on the 
way by which we were to pass; but that, without knowing it, 
we had returned by a different road. On the 21st, we went on 
board with our prisoner, who promised us some provision for 
his ransom ; and next day we put another prisoner ashore to 
endeavor to procure it for us with all expedition. 

On the 24th, came a Spanish officer, who brought us a letter 
from the vicar general of the province, (aud in all appearance,) 
by order of the general of Costa Rica, who sent us word there 
was a peace made between the crowns of France and Spain, 
for twenty years ; that they were joined together to make war 
upon the infidels ; that therefore we ought to commit no 
further hostilities ; and that, if we had a mind to return to the 
North Sea, we might come safely unto them, and have our pas- 
sage into Europe, in his Catholic majesty's galleons. We gave 
them an answer suitable to their proposal, being well enough 
acquainted with the evil disposition of the Spaniards towards 
us, who, by this false pretence, thought to have seduced us to 
come the more readily among them, who understood the ex- 
30* 



354 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

treme misery we had endured by one of our people, of whom 
we made mention before, and who ran away to them to be 
freed from the long fasts he was forced to with us. 

On the 24th, we careened our ships, and the next day put 
thirty prisoners ashore, part of whom we gave their liberty to, 
and on the 28th we made ready to return and go in quest of 
our two barks, whom we had appointed to rendezvous at the 
Isle of St. John de Cueblo, in case we were separated from one 
another. As we were going out of the port, the Spaniards 
gave notice, by the fires they made all along the coast, what 
course we steered. On the 3d of December, we found ourselves 
got above a hundred leagues out at sea, whither a north-east 
breeze had driven us ; we bore again towards land, and on the 
5th went ashore. We sent out three canoes furnished with 
seventy men, to cross the Bay of Colebra, and to endeavor 
to get some provision along the coast, as also to discharge 
our ships of so many mouths, there being but too little victuals 
left for those who remained behind, and who went to the Tsle 
of St. John. For as to the provision we were able to get to- 
gether, while we were ashore in the port of Realeguo, there 
was no great quantity of it, for the Spaniards, knowing of our 
coming, had carried it up far into the country, whither we durst 
not go and fetch it with so few men as we had with us, as not 
being yet sufficiently acquainted with their cowardice; 

From Realeguo to Panama there are a great many little ports 
which" you must be well acquainted with before you can find 
them, for the mouth of them is very obscure, and if you once 
do miss them, it is absolutely impossible to get ashore along the 
coast, the sea beiug there always boisterous, and very high upon 
the blowing of the least south-east and south-west winds upon it. 

I have observed this difference betwixt this sea and that of 
the north, that let the wind be ever so violent, as soon as 
it ceases, this sea proves as calm as if it had never blown ; 
whereas in the other, for all the wind is allayed, it continues 
several days in the same violent agitation as when it blew 
hard. I have also taken notice, that the windy storms, that are 
formed to leeward, are much more dangerous in the former 
than those that come from the windward ; but in the other, it 
is contrary, where a ship generally esteems not herself to be in 
danger, but from those that arise to windward of her, at least- 
wise, if the wind be not subject to a very great variation ; to 
which we may add one difference more, that the South Sea is 
pacific enough upon the main, and very turbulent upon the 
coast ; and that of the North is oftentimes very impetuous far 
out, and almost always calm near the shore. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



^55 




356 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

The South Sea breeds, in divers parts of it, a very great 
number of serpents, in color like spotted marble, and are gen- 
erally about two feet long ; their sting is of so venomous and 
killing a nature, that when a man is once stung by them, there 
is no human remedy that can secure him from a sudden death ; 
and that which is indeed very surprising, in regard to these 
creatures, is, that when the sea by the boisterousness of its waves 
throws them upon some bank or other, though they do not go 
out of the water, yet they no sooner touch the sand, but they 
presently die. 

On the 9th, having still kept our course along the coast, 
we put fifty men in three canoes ashore, to go and take the 
town of Esparso, which is three leagues from Caldaira, and is 
the place that serves for a port to it ; we took the sentinels 
about the third part of our way, who told us, that, besides the 
inhabitants of the town, there were five hundred men, whom 
they had sent for, to come to their assistance, from Carthage, 
upon the alarm given them by our two barks that had anchored 
in this bay, from which they were but just gone. Upon this in- 
telligence, we bethought ourselves, considering the smallness of 
our number, to put off this expedition to another time, and so 
returned with all speed, but in such want of provision, that we 
were forced to kill and eat the sentinels' horses, after four days' 
strict abstinence ; and this sort of fasting, which was not the 
first that we had used, did not prove to be the last. 

Caldaira is a bay that bears the name of six magazines that 
stand about three leagues to the east of the mouth of it, and 
upon the bank of the place of embarking, belonging to Esparso. 
This bay, which by some geographers is. called Nicoya, is one 
of the finest ports in the world, though the mouth of it be large, 
yet, in lieu of that, it is at least twelve leagues within land, 
and comprehends a great many islands of different sizes within 
it. There is none but an easterly wind that can hurt it. The 
bottom of the bay is open, by means of very fine rivers that run 
into it, and by which you may ascend to several villages, 
hattoes, and sugar plantations, whereof this country is full. 
You may chose your place of anchorage, according to the length 
of the cable, that is, from six fathom, increasing to a hundred, 
and the bottom is very good. I forgot to observe, that the six 
magazines of Caldaira, whereof I have spoken, were partly built 
by the inhabitants of Carthage, who make use of that for their 
port, for facilitating the traffic they drive with those living on 
the coast of Peru, before we came to terrify them. 

Having, on the 10th, gone on board our canoes, we went to 
a great bananery that stood in the same bay ; it is a set of 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 357 

fruit-trees which they call bananiers, and the fruit thereof ba- 
nanas, with which we loaded our canoes for our subsistence. 
As we went ashore, we took the sentinel of the little town of 
Nicoya, from which, finding ourselves at some distance, we did 
not then think fit to go up to it, and so we directed our course 
for Point Borica, where we arrived on the 14th. That is a 
very pleasant and delightful place, and among other things, we 
could not but admire a walk consisting of five rows of cocoa- 
trees that run along the bank for above fifteen leagues in length, 
and that in so orderly a manner, that though the same be no 
more than the bare work of nature, without any additional help 
from art, they seem as if they had been all planted on a line. 

This fruit, which upon several occasions- were so delightful 
to us, grows upon the stock of a tree, that is a kind of palm, 
tweuty or five arid twenty foot high. It is like a nut, but with- 
out making any comparison of the bigness of it, for there are 
some of these fruits that weigh twelve or fifteen pounds. The 
shell is very hard, and thick enough ; it is wrapped up in a kind 
of thick covering, made up all of filaments, with which the 
Spaniards used to caulker their ships, it being much better than 
tow, which rots in the water in less than a year's time, where- 
as the other is fed by it, and waxeth green. If you bore a hole 
in this nut, there runs out a quantity of greenish liquor, which 
somewhat resembles the color of whey, but of a sharpish taste, 
and- pleasant euough ; and when the shell is broken, we find 
under it a kernel, or what is equivalent thereto, of the thickness 
of a man's finger, very white and nourishing, which sticks very 
close to the inside. We left this place on the 20th, keeping 
our course still all along the continent. 

On the 22d, having no victuals to eat, we put sixty men in our 
three canoes ashore, to go seek some for us ; and after travelling 
the space of a league, we took a very curious hatto with two 
prisoners, who told us we were within a league and a half of 
the little town of Chiriquita, and that there were six hundred 
men in it, which made us seize with all expedition upon as 
much victuals as we could, to carry it to the place where we 
had left our canoes ; but in our return thither, we found four 
hundred horse in the way, whom we fought with all along, re- 
treating, till we came to the sea-side. They challenged us 
'again and again, and defied us in threatening language to go -to 
their town, which we did not fail to do some days afier. In 
the mean time, we bore away for the Isle of St. John, where, 
fcrriving on the 1st of January, 1686, we found our ship ancl 
two barks at anchor. 



358 THB BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

CHAPTER LII. 

The Freebooters' Voyage to the South Sea, in 1686. 

On the 5th of January, in the new year, we parted to the 
number of two hundred and thirty men in eight canoes, to go 
and face the townsmen of Chiriquita, and to give them the 
visit they had defied us to do. And so it was, that this Island 
of St. John being about twenty leagues from them, we went 
ashore on the 6th, about ten or eleven o'clock at night, without 
being discovered ; but as we had no guide with us, we marched 
on till daylight without seeing any body. We hid ourselves 
on the 7th, all the day, in a wood; but as soon as night ap- 
proached we came out and put on, without discovering any 
body, till the 8th, in the morning, when we concealed ourselves 
again in another small wood, and spent all the day in that place, 
during which time we came to know that we had mistaken our 
measures, by going ashore on that side of the river, whereas 
we should have gone on the other. This was cold comfort to 
people so fatigued as we were ; however, as soon as it was night, 
we made no more ado than to return to our canoes, wherein 
we passed that river. When we were got on the other side, 
we took the town watch, by whom we were informed that the 
Spaniards had conveyed away all their effects, upon our being 
at their hattoes. 

On the 9th, we got to Chiriquita two hours before day: we 
surprised all the inhabitants, who were for two days at variance 
with one another, about going the rounds, and after we had 
secured our prisoners, we told them that belonged to us, and 
that we were come to spare them the labor. We surprised also 
their court of guard, where they were at play, and as soon as 
they saw us amongst them, they flew to their arms to defend 
themselves, but as it was a little too late, we eased them of that 
trouble also. Of them we learned that there was a small frig- 
ate up the river, which, having touched in going out upon a 
bank of sand that lay at the mouth thereof, was forced to go 
back, and so put the provision, which was her lading, ashore. 

About two in the afternoon, we perceived some Spaniards in 
a house at some distance from the town, which made us send 
five of our number to fetch them out ; but when we drew near 
those whom we had seen, having showed themselves for no 
other purpose than to draw us out, disappeared, and presently 
about a hundred and twenty more came out of a little nook, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 359 

where they had concealed themselves, and beset ns in such a 
manner, that, finding no likelihood of escaping, we resolved 
never to be taken alive, but to sell our lives as dear as we could ; 
to which end we immediately stood back to back, that we 
might face th,e enemy every way, and in this posture we fought 
them above an hour and a half, at the expiration whereof there 
being no more than two of us in a condition to fight, God was 
pteased that some of our men who were upon the guard should 
come to our relief, being driven thither by the firings, for they 
thought, before they heard these cries, that we were exercising 
ourselves at shooting at a mark. When the enemy saw this 
reenforcement come, they made such haste to go away, that it 
was impossible to overtake them. This succor, coming in so 
seasonably, did infallibly save our lives, for the enemy having 
already killed us two men, and disabled another, it was impos- 
sible we should hold out against such a shower of bullets as 
were poured in upon us from all sides. And so I may truly 
say I escaped a scouring, and that without receiving as much 
as one wound, but by a visible hand of protection from heaven. 
The Spaniards left thirty men dead upon the spot, and thus we 
defended ourselves as desperate men, and, to say all in a word, 
like freebooters. 

We burnt all the houses in the town this day, lest under the 
covert of them our sentinels might be surprised, and that the 
enemy might come to insult us in the night. When v/e had 
so done, we retired into the great church, where they durst not 
come to attack us, but contented themselves to give us some 
musket shot from time to time, and that from a great distance. 

Chiriquita is a small town that stands in a plain of savannas, 
from whence the sight is bounded almost every way with no 
other than small, but very pleasant thickets. There are several 
rivulets that traverse it in divers places, and afterward gently 
glide into these savannas to water them. It is surrounded with 
a great many hattoes, and they drive no other trade but in tal- 
low and leather. The port or embarking place belonging to it 
is on a pretty large river, from whence you must ascend about 
a league to come at it. There is but one way to come in at 
its mouth, and the Spaniards themselves, without a buoy, will 
not. venture to enter it; there are three leagues by land from 
this embarking place to the town, and that through so pleasant 
a way, that none but such as we were could be weary of it, 
who had no other thoughts than to get victuals to satisfy our 
hunger, which bore hard upon us, when we were going to take 
this town, having eaten nothing from the 5th, when we left 
dui vessels, till the 9th, that we took it. 



360 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

On the 10th, we left the place, taking our prisoners along 
with us, to wait for the ransoming of them upon an island that 
is within the same river, making choice rather of these places 
for that purpose than of the continent, and where, being ob- 
liged for a long time to stay for the money, we should give the 
Spaniards thereby an opportunity to gather all their forces to- 
gether, and to pay us all at once, by overpowering us Avitji 
numbers ; whereas, these islands to which they could not come 
any other way than in shallops, and that openly, put us out of 
care to reembark, according to the measures they took by land. 
When therefore we returned to our canoes, which waited for 
us at the port of Chiriqnita, we found the inhabitants of that 
town had laid an ambuscade for us ; but we beat them off. and 
after the enemy had quite retired, they sent us a person to de- 
mand their prisoners, whom they said they would recover, or 
perish in the attempt. We told the messenger we were very 
ready to give them up, if they would come and meet us in the 
race savanna, to take them ; and that, if they fired one single bul- 
let at us, they should have no quarter, which so humbled their 
pride, that we saw no more of them. 

As soon as we were got to the fore-mentioned island, we sent 
part of our canoes to look after the cargo of the small frigate 
which the Spaniards of Chiriquita gave us information of, 
where they found above a hundred men intrenched ; but they 
could not hinder our men from possessing themselves of what 
they went in search for. Among the baggage, they found some 
letters, that, among other things, gave us to understand that 
the admiral of the Peru fleet, who was returned to Lima, had 
been burnt, with all her crew, which was at that time four 
hundred men, by a thunderbolt ; and this was so much the 
more surprising and admirable, that no man living could re- 
member to have heard any thunder in that country, no more 
than to have seen it rain. 

On the 16th, the ransom for our prisoners came, and after we 
had set them at liberty, we returned aboard our ship, which rode 
then at anchor at St. John's Island. On the 20th, we concluded 
among ourselves it was necessary we should build large peri- 
augues, seeing we could make no further use of our ship, for 
want of sails, and we had nothing left to make them with, and 
still were less able to take ships from the Spaniards, on this 
western coast, where they had put an entire stop to their navi- 
gation since we were come thither. On the 22d, we made 
choice of tall trees to make our canoes and periaugues of, upon 
the banks of a curious river, which we knew to be in the island. 

On the 27th, we descried seven sail of ships out at sea, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 361 

which made us fit out five canoes to go and see what they 
were, and as we doubled one of the points of the island, we 
discerned twelve periaugues, and three long barks, who coasted 
it all along. We took them presently to be the fleet of Peru 
that was come in quest of us ; we gave our men notice of it 
without delay, and at the same time resolved to put all we had 
on board our ship into our bark, and to go into that river where 
our docks were, there to wait the coming of our enemy, where 
they could not come to attack us, without losing a great many 
men. This project we put forthwith in execution, and after we 
had abandoned our ship, which could not be brought into that 
river, we ran her ashore, lest the Spaniards should have any 
benefit of it, and put her into a sailing condition, being very 
well assured of ourselves, that they did not want sails, as we 
did, for that purpose. 

On the 28th, our sentinels came to give us notice, that six 
periaugues plied along the shore, which made us at the same 
time put a hundred and fifty men to lie in ambush on both sides 
the river, and then we set out, with two of our canoes, from 
whence, after we had seen them, we feigned, to go away, by 
going back, to engage them to give us chase ; but they, sus- 
pecting a stratagem in the case, bore directly upon our ship, 
that was run aground, upon which they fired very furiously, 
though there was none left within it but only a poor cat, which 
they perceiving, they bravely boarded and burnt her, for the 
sake of the iron work that belonged to her, which is a com- 
modity as rare as it is dear in some parts of Peru. On the 1st 
of February, the Spanish fleet sailed away, and left us at ease 
to finish our work, upon which we spent the remainder of the 
month. 

We understood, afterwards, that the admiral of this fleet had 
orders to put some field-pieces ashore, to demolish those fortifi- 
cations which they thought we had made upon the island, be- 
ing induced to believe it was so by the report the prisoners, 
which we sent them, made of our intentions ; and we, to impose 
upon them, having asked whether there were any masons among 
them that could do our work, .and sometimes obliged them to 
give us brick for their ransom, though we had no need of them. 
There were no less than fourteen of our men died in the month 
of February. 

On the 14th of March, we departed from the Isle of St. John, 
with our two barks, a half galley of forty oars, ten great peri- 
augues, and ten small canoes, all built of mapou timber, except 
our two barks. We gained the windward point of the island, to 
take a review of our men, and found ourselves weaker by no 
31 



362 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

less than thirty persons, since our separation from the English. 
But we formed.a design anew at the same time, which had been 
put by for above four months, which was to go and take 
the town of Granada, distant now from us about two hundred 
leagues. To effect this work, it was necessary we should be 
furnished with provision wherewith to subsist us during the 
voyage ; and we having none, this made us send away our half 
galley and four canoes, to seek for some at Pueblo Neuvo. while 
the rest of the company went to tarry for us at the Isle of St. 
Peter, which js two leagues to windward of the River Chiri- 
quita, and to finish somewhat that was still wanting to the com- 
plete equipment of our canoes. 

On the 6th of April, about three hours before daylight, we 
got near to the River of Pueblo Nuevo, and by a clear light of 
the moon, we discerned a small frigate at its mouth, as also a 
long bark, and a periaugue. We came within pistol-shot of them, 
as supposing them to be our English freebooters, from whom 
we had separated. But we found ourselves quickly mistaken, 
for, after we had hailed them, they answered us with an entire 
volley of great and small shot, which made us now conjecture 
that they were, and it was too true, a detachment left by the 
Spanish fleet in tha.t place, when they left us at St. John's Isl- 
and, as a guard to two small ships, which we knew they were 
lading with provisions, at the port of this town, in order to 
transport the same to Panama. Our mistake was the reason 
that we had twenty men disabled to fight, by this first discharge 
of the enemy, before we knew well where we were. But after 
Ave were a little recovered of the surprise this adventure put 
us to, we fought them stiffly for the space of two hours, though 
we had the use of no other arms than our fusees, and not one 
cannon to discharge upon them ; and they, on their part, de- 
fended themselves so much the more vigorously, in that they 
believed we, after such a surprise as we had been exposed to, 
would quickly slacken our courage, and give way. They did 
all they could to make ready during the fight ; but we hindered 
them, and no man could appear in the shrouds, but we brought 
them down, as well as their grenadiers from their round tops. 
But finding the light of the moon now gone, we put off out 
of the reach of their cannon, as well to take care of our wounded 
men, which amounted to thirty-three, besides four who were 
killed outright, as to wait for daylight, in order to terminate 
this affair, which we were not willing to leave undecided. But 
the enemy did in the mean time retire under the covert of an 
intrenchment, which I have said already they had upon the 
banks of this river, where the country people, who had heard 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. * doS 

the noise of the fight in the night, were also come, which made 
us conclude, that if we went to attack them in that place, we 
could not have that advaniage there we had resolved to take 
of them ; so upon approach of day we steered our course to go 
and rejoin our canoes at the Isle of St. Peter, where we arrived 
on the 8th. 

On the 9th, we found ourselves in great want of victuals, 
having now nothing at all to eat ; and this put us hard to it, 
more especially our wounded men, whom we sent by our half 
galley (for their better conveniency) on board # our two barks, 
whom we had appointed to rendezvous in the Bay of Boca del 
Toro. When this was done, we went ashore to a town ten 
leagues to leeward of Chiriquita, where finding none, we left 
it, and on the 11th, in our return to our canoes, we found, in 
order to strengthen us under the languishment which hunger 
had reduced us to, a regale of an ambuscade of five hundred 
men laid for us, against whom, for all our weakness, we made 
so good a defence, that we obliged them to leave us free pas- 
sage ; but yet not without the loss of two of our men. We 
went on board in the evening, to go join our barks in the Bay 
of Boca del Toro, where we arrived the 13th, and went ashore, 
spending our time to the 16th in hunting, more especially for 
the subsistence of our wounded men ; and here we found the 
same sort of deer and birds, as 1 have taken notice of in our 
passage over the continent, in great plenty. 

On the same day, we. departed for the Bay of Caldaira, after 
having renewed our enterprise upon the little town of Lesparso, 
of which 1 have already spoken. On the 19th, being arrived 
in the bay, we went ashore two hours before daylight, and 
reached the town. About eleven in the morning, we found the 
place was in a manner entirely abandoned from the time we had 
taken the sentinels, who, as I have already observed, diverted 
us from going thither, by the account they gave of the reen- 
forcemeut that was come to them from Carthage. However, 
we took some prisoners, who told us all the people were retired 
to this last town, which is twenty-four leagues off; so that, 
finding our endeavors all frustrated, we returned, on the 20th, 
to the sea-side, to rejoin our canoes. 

Lesparso is reckoned to be three leagues distant from the 
sea-side, and the way thither very bad ; you cannot travel the 
length of a gunshot in even ground, but the same is every where 
rugged, and full of little mountains and hills, though beyond 
them the country appears to be very good and delightful. The 
town is built upon an eminence, from whence one may easily 
see all that comes in and goes out of the bay. This town ia 



364 • THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

tfi a manner encompassed with a rivulet that runs round it 
Between it and Carthage are very curious plains, with roya 
ways made through them, and that as well as any in Europe. 

On the 2 1st, we victualled ourselves with the fruit of a ba- 
nanery in this bay, wherein our two barks came to join us ; and 
next day we summoned our people ashore upon this island, as 
well to consult how we should attack the town of Granada, 
which we had a design upon, as to take an account of what 
powder they had, as fearing many of them might use it in hunt- 
ing. Here we enacted orders, whereby those were condemned 
to lose their share of the booty got in the place that should be 
found guilty of cowardice, violence, drunkenness, disobedience, 
theft, and straggling from the main body without orders. When 
this was over, we left the bay the same evening, and a strong 
easterly wind, surprising us in the night, separated our vessels 
from one another. At break of day we told thirteen sail, where- 
with we were amazed, knowing we had no more than a dozen, 
and this made us give our canoes the signal to chase, as well as 
we, that vessel that did not belong to us : but when we had 
continued the chase for about an hours time, we perceived five 
more ; and having come up with the foremost, we understood 
it was Captain Townsley, come from the coast of Acapulco. 
He had left his ship at the cape, over against the mouth of the 
bay, where we had been, and went with his five canoes to find 
out some bananas, having very little provision on board. He 
told us that Captain David, with his fleet, was on the southern 
coast, and that Captain Suains, with his ship, was gone to the 
East Indies. 

We, finding ourselves now to be the stronger party, called to 
mind their former imperious dealings with us, and, to show our 
resentment of it, we made him and his men, who were in the 
other four canoes, prisoners. We boarded his vessel immedi- 
ately, of which having made ourselves masters, we made a sham 
of taking it away ; but, our design being only to frighten them, 
we left them for some time under the apprehensions o( the 
danger they were in. Then we let the captain know we were 
honester men than he, and that, though we had the upper hand, 
yet we would not take the advantage of revenging the injuries 
they had done us, and that we would put him and his men in 
possession of what we had taken from them four or five hours 
before. This moderation which we exercised towards them, 
together with their being informed by some of our crew of a 
design we had upon the town of Granada, engaged them to 
desire we would take them in to be our associates in the enter- 
prise ; and, they being a hundred and fifteen in number, we 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 365 

readily consented to such a reenforcement, as must needs be 
useful to us. 

On the 25th, we departed all together, French* and English, in 
our periaugues^and canoes, leaving their ship and our two barks 
under the covert of Cape Blanck, which is twenty leagues to 
windward of the place where we were to go ashore, and gave 
orders to those that were appointed to guard them, to sail away 
six days after, and to coast it till they came to an anchor, at 
the place where we should leave our canoes. 

On the 7th of April, we went ashore on a fiat coast, to the 
number of three hundred and forty-five men, under the conduct 
of a very.good guide, who led us across a wood that we might 
not be discovered. We marched on night and day till the 9th, 
but, notwithstanding all the precautions we took, we could not 
hinder our being discovered by the inhabitants of the town of 
Granada, who were fishing in a river about fifteen leagues off; 
and, though they made all the haste they could to advertise 
the Spaniards of our march, they could not have been there 
time enough to have given the people notice to remove all their 
effects, considering the expedition we used to follow them, had 
not they had (unhappily upon our account) notice given them 
of us three weeks before by the inhabitants of Lesparso, who 
having seen the great number of canoes we had, as we passed 
by there, grew suspicious of our design. 

The fatigue we had undergone dining our march, together 
with the sharp hunger that pressed us, obliged us to halt and 
rest the 9th, in the evening, in a great sugar plantation, that is 
about four leagues distant from Granada, and was in our way 
thither. It belonged to a knight of St. James's, whom, upon 
our arrival, we failed to take prisoner, our legs being at that 
time much more disposed to rest than to run after him. On 
the 10th we set out, and upon our approach near the town, we 
observed an eminence above it about a league off, and two ships 
upou the lake of Nicaragua, that carried, as we were since 
informed, all the wealth of the town, into an island two leagues 
off. We took a prisoner in a village that was in our way, who 
told us the inhabitants, of the town had intrenched themselves 
upon the place of arms, and compassed it with a strong wall, 
since our quartermaster, who had run away to them, had given 
information that we designed to come amongst them. He told 
us further, that the place was guarded with fourteen pieces of 
cannon, and six patereroes ; and lastly, that they had detached 
six troops of horse to attack our rear, while our front should 
be engaged with the Spaniards, if so be we should come up 
:o them. 

31* 



3G6 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

This information, which doubtless would have terrified any 
other but freebooters, did not retard onr design one minute, nor 
hinder us. About two in the afternoon of the same day, we 
came up to the town, where, at one entrance into the suburbs, 
we met with a strong party lying in ambush for us, whom, after 
an hour's engagement, we fell with that fury on, that we made 
our way over all their bellies, with the loss only of one man 
on our own side, and from thence entered the town, where we 
made a halt to wait for the answer of several of our company, 
whom we had detached to go round, and take observation of a 
fort which we saw in a direct line from the street, by which 
we entered. Presently after came a party to inform us, that it 
was a square fort, and that, beside the street we were in, they 
had also observed three more, that looked out to the other three 
sides of that fort, by which the enemy could discover whatever 
came towards them through those avenues, which were, more- 
over, all commanded by their cannon and small arms. 

We were not long in debate what we should do ; we could 
easily see we were too few to make our attacks by those different 
ways all at a time. Wherefore, after we had got together all 
those whom we had sent out to scout, who for some time had 
been detained by some light skirmishes, we made ourselves 
ready to fall on, through that street alone where we then were ; 
and it was well we did so, for, if we had dispersed ourselves 
through the others, the horse, which were in the rear of us. and 
observed our motion, would not have failed to hem us in, which 
they durst not do while we kept all together. 

After we had exhorted one another to fall on bravely, we 
advanced at a round pace towards the said fortification. As 
soon as the defendants saw us within a good cannon-shot of 
them, they fired furiously upon us; but observing that, at every 
discharge of their great guns, we saluted them down to the 
ground, in order to let their shot fly over us, they bethought 
themselves of false priming them, to the end we might raise 
our bodies after the sham was over, and so be really surprised 
with their true firing. As soon as we discovered this stratagem, 
we ranged ourselves along the houses, and having got upon a 
little ascent, which was a garden plat, we fired upon them from 
thence so openly for an hour and a half, that they were obliged 
to quit the ground, to which our hardy boys, who were got to 
the foot of their walls, contributed yet even more than the 
other, by pouring in hand greuadoes incessantly upon them, so 
that at last they betook themselves to the great church, or 
tower ; but they wounded us some men. As soon as our peo- 
ple, who had got upon the same eminence, perceived that the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 367 

enemy fled, they called to us to jump over the walls, which we 
had no sooner done, but they followed us. And thus it was, 
that we made ourselves masters of their place of arms, and con- 
sequently of the town, from whence they fled, after having lost 
a great many men. We had on our side but four men killed, 
and eight wounded, which in truth, was very cheap. When 
we got into the fort, we found it to be a place capable of con- 
taining six thousand fighting men. It -was encompassed with a 
wall, the same as our prisoners gave us an account of. It was 
pierced with many holes, to do execution upon the assailants, 
and was well stored with arms. That part of it which looked 
towards the street, through which we attacked it, was defended 
by two pieces of cannon, and four patereroes, to say nothing 
of several other places made to open in the wall, through which 
they thrust instruments made on purpose, to break the legs of 
those that should be so adventurous as to come near it ; but 
these, by the help of our grenadiers, we rendered useless to 
them. After we had sung Te Dewn in the great church, and 
set four sentinels in the tower, we fixed our court of guard in 
the strong built houses, that are also enclosed within the place 
of arms, and there gathered all the ammunition we could get. 
Then we went to visit the houses, wherein we found nothing 
but a few goods, and some provision, which we carried into 
our court of guard. 

Next day in the evening, we detached a party, a hundred and 
fifty men, to go and find out some women, that we might put 
them to ransom, and some booty which we were told they had 
in the sugar plantation, a league off of the city. But they 
were gone by the time we got thither, as not believing them- 
selves safe in that place, so that our party came back re infecta. 
The same day we sent a prisoner to the Spaniards, to require 
them to ransom the town, or else we would burn it ; where- 
upon they sent a monk to treat with us, who said the officers 
and inhabitants were in consultation about it, but that one of 
our men whom they had taken as. he lagged behind, through 
weariness upon the road, without the officer, that brought up 
our rear, having taken notice of it, assured them we would not 
burn it, because our design was to pass some month after to the 
North Sea, by the lake there, and to furnish ourselves in this 
town with necessaries for our journey, which we should not 
meet with if we fired the place : so that, the said man having 
given them such assurance, they would no longer trouble them- 
selves about giving an answer to the proposal we had made for 
their ransoming the town, which at last constrained some of 
us to set fire to the houses, out of mere spite and revenge. 



368 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

The opportunity, which now offered itself unto us of passing 
through the lake to the North Sea, was not at this time over 
favorable, and we should not have failed to make use of it, if 
we had had canoes ready in this place to go and take two ships, 
and the wealth of the town, which the inhabitants had carried, 
for the better securing of them, into the island, which I have 
already said was in the said lake ; which would have put a full 
end unto the trouble we had been in from the time we failed 
of seizing the flota before Panama. But the term of our dan- 
gers and miseries, which our destiny had still in store for us, 
being not yet come v we could not take the advantage of so 
favorable an opportunity to get out of those parts of the world, 
which, though very charming and agreeable to those who are 
settled there, yet did not appear to be so to a handful of men, 
as we were, without shipping, the most part of our time with- 
out victuals, and wandering amidst a multitude of enemies, 
against whom we were obliged to be continually upon our 
guard, and who did all that in them lay to deprive us of 
subsistence. 

Granada is a large and spacious town, situated in a bottom, 
inclining to the coast of the South Sea, whose churches are 
very stately, and houses well enough built. They have several 
religious houses there, both of men and women : the great 
church stands at one of the ends of the place of arms. The 
country thereabouts is very destitute of water, they having no 
other there than only the Lake of Nicaragua, upon the side 
whereof the city is built, and round about which you may see 
a great many fine sugar plantations, which are more like unto 
so many villages than single houses, and, among the rest, is 
that belonging to the knight of St. James's, where we lay in 
our march to the town, where there is a very pretty and rich 
church. 

On the 10th, we left the city, and took along with us one 
piece of cannon, with four patereroes, as not questioning but 
we should meet with opposition in our way, before we came 
to the sea-side, from which we were near twenty leagues dis- 
tant ; and therein we were not deceived, seeing the Spaniards 
waited for us, to the number of two thousand five hundred 
men, within a quarter of a league of the town, and presently 
charged us : but, not dreaming that we had brought any artil- 
lery along with us, they were so terrified when we had fired 
two cannon shot upon their first ambuscade, that they left us a 
free passage in this place only ; for, though they saw a great 
many of their men sprawling upon the ground, they ceased not 
ali the way, at certain distances, to lay new ambushes for us, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 369 

where they had no more success than at first. We took one 
of them prisoners, who told us there was a million and a half 
of pieces of eight, long since ordered for the ransoming of their 
town, in case the same should be taken, and that the same was 
buried in the wall, so as that it could not be seen. But we had 
no inclination to go back in search of this money, seeing we 
found difficulty enough to rid ourselves out of the hands of so 
considerable a number of enemies as we had already to deal with. 

We were forced that evening to leave our cannon behind us, 
after we had first nailed them up, for the oxen that drew them 
were dead for want of water, having travelled several leagues 
through very great heats, without one drop of water, and through 
such a dust as choked both man and beast. But we reserved 
our patereroes, which were carried by mules, who could better 
bear this inconveniency. At last, we lay in a very pretty vil- 
lage, called Massaya, that stands upon the side of the lake ; but 
from hence to the water there is so great a descent, that a man 
of full growth appears to be no bigger than a child. We were 
received by the Indians in this place with open arms ; but the 
Spaniards that had retired thither, knowing the extreme thirst 
wherewith we were afflicted, had spoiled all the water that was 
in the village, hoping thereby to reduce us to such necessity, 
that we might go by night to drink to the lake, that so they 
might lay some ambush for us. But these Indians, that came 
to meet and pray us not to burn their village, remedied this evil, 
in assuring us they would supply us with whatever we had 
occasion for, as long as we staid there, and particularly with 
water. Taken with this their submission, we granted them 
their request, so much the more willingly, seeing they gave us 
to understand, upon several occasions, that they were more our 
friends than they were the Spaniards. 

All these Indians are a miserable people, whom the Spaniards 
endeavor to reduce and bring under their subjection by little 
and little, with a feigned gentleness practised towards them, to 
make them forgetful of those cruelties and tyrannies they had 
heretofore exercised in those parts, and which they are not 
wanting still -to keep in remembrance. They have at present 
a pretty number of them there, whom they have enticed down 
from those mountains where they had taken refuge, and brought 
thern to submit in this manner. They have given them places 
to build boroughs and villages upon, but all their labor redounds 
to the advantage of the Spaniards ; so that, being used as slaves 
by them, they are so weary of their dominion, and the barbarity 
showed them, by being made use of as palisadoes by the Span- 
iards, when they fight us, that if we had been people fit to. 



370 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

receive them, as often as they made an offer to take our parts, 
we should have, formed a very considerable army ; and it is 
certain, that if they had but arms and protection, they would 
have infallibly shaken off the -yoke of their pitiful masters, 
being three times more in number than they. 

We rested only one day in this place, to refresh our wounded 
men, where two died of the cramp, which contracted all their 
nerves : this is so malignant a distemper in this country, that, 
when it seizes upon a stranger that is wounded, it will certainly 
kill him. This same day came a father to us from the Span- 
iards, to re-demand another father from us, who was one of our 
prisoners, who had taken up arms against us, and had his pockets 
full of poisoned bullets. We required in exchange for him one 
of our men whom they had taken, which they would by no 
means agree to : so that we carried the latter along with us, as 
far as the sea-side. 

On the 17th, we left this borough, and lay in another place 
three leagues beyond it, from whence we passed next day, and 
as we came out of a forest to enter into a plain, we discovered 
five hundred , men upon an ascent, waiting for our coming, 
commanded by the above-mentioned Catalonian quartermaster, 
that had deserted us. They had put up bloody colors, to sig- 
nify they would give no quarter, which obliged us to lay by 
our white colors, and display our red as well as they. We 
marched directly to the place where they were, without stop- 
ping, though they fired very thick upon us ; and when we came 
within musket-shot, we detached our vanguard to beat them 
off their ground, which they did with wonderful bravery : here 
we took about fifty horses. The enemy, in their flight, cow- 
ardly left part of their arms behind them, besides their dead 
and wounded .men, by which last, we understood that these 
people were the reenforcement which the inhabitants of the 
town of Leon had sent to the assistance of Granada against us, 
and who were returned home. 

After we had rested about an hour, we continued our march, 
and lay at a little town, which the inhabitants had forsaken. On 
the 19th, we lay in a hatto, and the next day in an estancia, 
where we rested some days to refresh ourselves, and to salt our 
provisions to carry on board our ships, where we knew very 
well there could be no victuals left. I always went before, 
with an advanced party of fifty men, to go and inform those 
who looked after our vessels with our return. On the 26th, 
the rest of our men came to the sea-side, where we reembarked 
all together, and understood that four of our men, wounded in 
the fight at Pueblo Viego, were dead, but more for want of 
sustenance than their wounds. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 371 

On the 27th, we sailed for Realeguo, and on tfee 28th an- 
chored in that port, where, upon our going ashore, the sentinels 
of Pueblo Viego discovered us, but that did not hinder us to 
proceed and arrive at the place about noon. The Spaniards, 
who had heard of our coming, fled every where ; but the heats 
are so excessive in these parts, that you cannot travel there this 
time of day ; and this made us go and see rather for some shade 
or tufts of grass whereof to set our feet, than to run after the 
enemy ; however, we took some prisoners. We tarried there 
but two days, and after we had gathered as much provision as 
we could find in the houses, we sent out a party to seek for 
some horses, whereof they brought us a hundred ; we departed 
on the 1st of May,. and carried our provision to the river side, 
at Realeguo, where our canoes were, who carried the same after- 
wards on board our ships, while we went out to seek for more, 
that so we might get together a good quantity, and not be 
obliged to consume it as we brought it in. 

On the 2d, we went to a sugar plantation, to fetch off six 
caldrons, which we brought away next day, and on the 4th, 
set out for a borough two leagues from Realeguo, which they 
call Ginandego, which some of the inhabitants a few days be^ 
fore prayed us by way of raillery to go and visit, as thinking 
themselves sufficiently secured by an intrenchment cast up at 
the avenue leading to it, and that was defended by two hun- 
dred men. We got thither on the 5th, by break of day ; but, 
being discovered by the sentinel, he carried the Spaniards notice 
thereof, who gave us no occasion to desire them to quit it, after 
they had given us a few musket-shojt ; so that, to punish their 
rhodomontades, we burnt the place do.wn to the ground. We 
took one of their people prisoner, by whom we understood that 
the corregidor of Leon, who was very desirous to drive us away 
from that coast, had ordered all the tements, as soon as we got 
to any place, to burn all the provision they had, which to our 
sorrow was but too well executed, not only here, but every 
where else, and was the cause also of that hunger and extraor- 
dinary toil which we were forced to endure in these seas, as 
long as we staid there. 

The same day about noon, came about eight hundred men 
into a savana, from Leon, to fight us; the sentinels, which we 
had placed on the top of the steeple, rung the alarum-bell, to 
give us notice to get together, and come out of the houses 
where we were dispersed : whereupon we marched in a body 
of a hundred and fifty men, with red colors, to fight them ; 
but as they could not endure to let us come within musket-shot 
of them, for they fled without any more ado, we were obliged 



372 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

to retire, and, on the 6th, went away to go on board our ships, 
which we careened next day, as we also cleaned our canoes. 

On the 9th, we had a consultation together, about what way 
we should take, and here we found ourselves of two opinions; 
one party was for going up before Panama, being in hopes they 
had begun their navigation again, as knowing we were far enough 
from them; but the rest represented that many times they had 
such years on that coast, whereof that might be one of them, 
that eight months thereof was sad weather, in respect to exces- 
sive rains and southerly winds which .reign there, and that 
therefore it would be more advisable to go lower westward, 
and winter upon some island or other, and there to wait for fair 
weather. 

Now these different sentiments were pursued by us, and, 
every man having made choice of his side, next day our chirnr- 
geons had orders to give in an account of those among the 
wounded, who were crippled, to the end we might make them 
satisfaction befere we divided. They told us we had four men 
crippled, and six hurt, to which we gave six hundred pieces of 
eight a man, and a thousand to those that were crippled, as it 
was our constant custom in those seas; and it was exactly all 
the money we had got together that was applied to that use. 
We made a division of the barks and canoes on the 12th, and 
found ourselves to be a hundred and forty-eight Frenchmen, 
ready to go up towards Panama (without comprehending the 
English under Captain Townsley) and the same number of 
French sailed also to the westward. Next day our provision 
was shared amongst us, and now it was that we divided into 
two parts; those who were for the westward put themselves 
under the conduct of Captain Grognier, and we, that were 
bound for Panama, were commanded by Captain Townsley, 
and then we went to anchor at an island, half a league distant 
from that we left, to take in water and wood. On the sixteenth, 
Captain Grognier sent us his quarter-master to desire us to put 
none of our prisoners ashore, for fear they should give the 
Spaniards notice of our separation, for, as he had a design to 
make a descent upon them, he was apprehensive that such 
a discovery would make them more resolute and hardy to 
oppose him. 

On the 19th, we made ready, and sailed for Panama with 
Captain Townsley's ship and one bark. We steered E. S. E. 
to S. S. E. and to S. S. W. till midnight, when we were over- 
taken with a storm, which made us lie by till the 20th at noon ; 
when the weather proved fair, then we steered E. S. E. 
to the 23d, when we anchored in the Bay of Colebra, to take 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 373 

in water. We spent that day there to take tortoises, which 
are to be fo^md in great numbers in that little bay. They are 
of different sizes, and we found one sort of them so large, that 
one was enough for fifty persons to feed upon in a day. On 
the 24th, we put a hundred and fifty men ashore, in order to 
find out some town or borough, we having no guide with us that 
knew this country ; and, after we had walked a league or there- 
abouts, we alighted upon three hattoes very near one another, 
where, finding edibles enough, we staid till the 26th, when we 
returned on board ; then Captain Townsley proposed we should 
go and take the town of Villia, which is 30 leagues to the lee- 
ward of Panama, to which all of us agreed, and that evening 
we weighed, having a wind blowing from the land, which 
served us till the 27th at noon, when it blew very hard from 
the S. E., accompanied with rain till the 28th in the evening, 
when it began to allay ; we were favored all the 29th with a 
westerly wind, and that evening were brought in sight of Cape 
Blanco. On the 30th, the weather was fair enough ; but on 
the 31st, two hours before daylight, it grew very boisterous, so 
that we were forced to put in for that cape ; we had a thun-> 
derbolt fell upon the end of our great sail-yard, which did no 
more than crack it. Having moderate weather on the first of 
June, we steered E. S. E., and, next day about noon, had a 
sight of land ; but it was so hazy, that we could not tell where 
we were ; however we steered E. by S. E., to come near. The 
weather being now somewhat cleared up, we found we 
were between the Bay of Boca del Tbro, and the point called 
Barica, when we sailed S. and by S. E., to put out to sea, and 
then bore to the N. E., that we might reach the Isle of St. 
John de Cueblo. 

On the 7th, we put in at the Isle of Montosa, six leagues to 
southward of that of St. John ; we set out three canoes, with 
which we coasted round about this last, and our ships anchored 
at another little island, which is half a league to the east. 
While we were going round St. John's Island, with our canoes, 
we found nothing there but one of our prisoners, who having 
made his escape from us when we were there, and, being not 
able to get to the continent, returned to us. On the 10th, we 
went back to our ships, and next day took in our store of 
water and wood, and cleaned our ships. There arose the suc- 
ceeding night a north wind that tore our cables, and made us 
think we should be thrown ashore; but, as good luck would 
have it, it came about, and gave us an opportunity to make 
ready, and to cast anchor farther from the shore. By the favor 
of the lightning we discovered our canoes, and found their 
32 



374 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ropes also broken, and that the waves were throwing them 
ashore also, unless we had saved them, though we could not 
hinder one of them from being staved to pieces. 

On the 13th, we made ready, and sailed for La Villia, with a 
W. S. W. wind, made land on the 15th, and knew it to he the 
cape called Morne a Peurcos ; then we bore off to sea with a 
hard wind till the evening, when the weather grew so very bad, 
that we did nothing till the 18th, but let onr ships drive with 
a south-west wind, having a terrible rain all the while till noon, 
when the weather grew betted ; and, being cleared up, we dis- 
cerned three rocks, which are called the Three Brothers, stand- 
ing three leagues to leeward of the Bay of Villia, whither we 
were going. On the 19th, we saw the Point Mala, which is 
leeward of that bay. We sailed all night northward, to get 
to the shore ; and next morning at break of day we found our- 
selves within five orsix leagues of it, when we furled all our sails 
except our sprit-sail. Next evening Ave went on board onr 
canoes, and put on all night, after we had given onr ships orders 
to lie by and wait for us at the mouth of the bay where we 
were. 

On the 21st in the morning, we discovered the place where 
we were to go ashore, and cast anchor till night came, as we 
also took down our masts, for fear they should be discovered 
from the shore, and then made ourselves ready to land, which 
we did on the 22d, an hour before day. But experience telling 
us we had not time enough before us to get to the place before 
day-light appeared, we put three leagues orf where we anchored, 
having no where in this bay above fifteen fathoms water. 
That evening we made for the shore again, which we could 
not recover before midnight, because the currents were against 
us. After we had got footing, we marched to the number of a 
hundred and sixty men directly to the town, and took one of two 
Spaniards, whom we found on the way, who told us that he 
was sent by the alcaide major to watch on the sea-side, because 
he had seen a ship and a bark aloof off, which yet they were 
so little alarmed with, that they had increased their guard with 
no more than twenty men. We continued our march, and, for 
all the expedition we were able to use, it was an hour after 
sun-rising before we could get to the town, where we found 
no resistance, half of the people being then at mass. Of men and 
women we took three hundred prisoners, by whom we under- 
stood there were three barks in the river, on which the town 
was situated. We sent presently out a party to take them ; 
but the Spaniards, having lost no time, sunk one of them, hid 
the sails and rudder of the other two, and cut down their masts 



THE BUCCANEERS OF A3IERICA. 375 

by the middle ; so that the party, going on further, gave notice to 
those of us whom we had left to take care of our canoes, which 
they found at anchor at the river's mouth, that we had taker 
Villia. We gathered together that day the merchandise which 
the fleet had left in this town, computed by the Spaniards to be 
worth a million and a half, and to the value of fifteen thousand 
pieces of eight in good silver, which was an inconsiderable 
prize to what we should have found there, if the Spaniards 4a 
all these countries, who are always apprehensive of the visits 
of the freebooters, had not hid their treasures out of our sight, 
many of whom chose rather to be killed than to discover the 
places where they had buried them. 

On the 24th, we sent a party of fourscore men to conduct a 
like number of horses laden with bales of goods to the river 
side, where we knew there were two canoes belonging to the 
Spaniards, on board of which, after they had put them, they 
were to bring them to the river's mouth where ours were ; but 
one of our men, sent upon this occasion, was taken by the 
enemy. The same day we sent a letter to the alcaide major, 
(as they called him.) in order to know whether he would 
ransom the town, and buy the effects we had seized. He sent us 
answer, that all the ransom, that he took upon him to give us, was 
powder and ball, whereof he had a great deal at our service ; 
that, as to the prisoners we had taken, he committed them to 
the hands of God ; and moreover, that his people were getting 
together as fast as they could to get the honor to see us. Upon 
the receiving this answer, which angered all our men, we fired 
the town, and went our ways to lie in a place where our booty 
was kept by our fourscore men, which was about a quarter of 
a league off. We were alarmed several times that night,- and 
on the 25th, put the best and finest effects on board the two 
Spanish canoes, because we could not carry off all. For our 
own canoes, as we have said, were at the mouth of the river, 
on board of which we could have laden the rest ; but they 
durst not come up thither, because of the ambuscades of the 
Spaniards who had already killed them a man, as they were 
endeavoring to come up to us, pursuant to the orders we had 
before left with them. Wherefore, having laden the two Spanish 
canoes, we put nine men on board them, and the rest guarded 
them by land, all along the river side, while six hundred Span- 
iards did the same on the other side, without being discovered 
by us, because of a great many trees, bushes, and thickets, that 
grew along the banks thereof. When we had marched on 
about a league, we came to a place so full of these trees and 
thickets, that we could not pass it, so that we were obliged tc 



376 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

take a turn abont, which brought us off from the river side 
about two hundred paces, which was the occasion, as you will 
.hear, of the loss of all our booty, and the death of some of 
our men. 

As we quitted the place where we lay, we ordered those who 
had the charge of our canoes to stop in this river, at a place 
where there were three Spanish barks, to the end we might 
endeavor to bring them away ; but, when they came there, 
they were suddenly surprised with an ambuscade, of which 
the Spaniards were never niggard to us, and, as they defended 
themselves against them, the current of the river drove them 
beyond the three barks, and consequently far from us ; which 
was exactly what they would have, for, as soon as they saw 
them in a place where we could not relieve them, they dis- 
charged sixty musket-shot at them, with which they killed four, ' 
and wounded one. The rest made their escape to the other 
side of the river, and abandoned their canoes, which a dozen 
Indians, who swam the river, carried to the Spaniards, who cut 
oif the head of one of our men, who was only wounded, and 
set it on the top of a pole, that we might see it as we came 
down the river. 

After we had finished the tour we had taken, we drew near 
the river again ; and being to come to the place where the three 
barks were, and not finding our canoes, we thought they were 
still behind; but, about an hour after, we saw three of those 
who had the charge of them coming through thfi thickets 
toward us, who gave us a relation of the disaster that befel 
them, and said, that, as they passed the woods, they found the 
rudders and sails of those three barks, in two of which we 
embarked ourselves all together, and sent out constantly fifty 
•men by land before us. to seek out those sails and rudders, giv- 
ing them a signal, that we would fire off three guns, and that 
they should answer us with as many, to show where they should 
find us, to the end they might join us there. But, at the same 
time that we fired our three pieces, we heard the report of above 
five hundred, which made us immediately conclude our men 
were attacked, wherefore we- delayed not to go ashore, in order 
to relieve them; but. by the time we came up, the engagement 
was over, and. had not the river been between them and us, 
the matter had not been ended so. We found one of our peo- 
ple in this place, who had escaped out of our vessels, after we 
had brought away the ship-tackle that were hid in the woods. 

After we were embarked, we asked the captain of horse of 
Villia, that was our prisoner, where it was the Spaniards could 
lay other ambuscades for us; he answered it might be about 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 377 

the river's mouth, and not only so, but that we should mistrust 
all those places, which seemed to give them any advantage ovei 
us; and then we came to an anchor, because of the coming in 
of the tide. 

On the 26th, we went ashore at a place where they had killed 
our men the day before ; we found the two canoes dashed to 
pieces, and the bodies of our men whom they had wounded in 
several places after they were dead. Orje of them they had 
thrown into the fire, and put the other's head upon a pole, as 
we have said already. These objects so enraged our men, that 
they cut off, at the same time, four of their prisoners' heads, 
whom they set up also upon poles in the same place. Then 
we took the bodies of ours to bury them on the sea-side, and, 
before we got thither, we were forced three times to go ashore 
•to break through the ambuscades laid for us all along the river, 
at the mouth whereof we found also that we were warned of 
by the captain of horse aforesaid; but we happily freed our- 
selves from it, though with the loss of three men, and one 
wounded. At last we rejoined our canoes, where one of our 
wounded men died soon after. 

The River of Villia is very large, and at low water it breaks 
at the mouth of it as on a flat shore. About a league to 
windward, stands a great rock, which night and day, and at all 
seasons, is covered with a vast number of birds called /regales, 
manbies, and great goziers, that live altogether by fishing. 
Great ships cannot enter into this river, they being obliged to 
anchor within cannon-shot in the sea ; but. for barks of about 
40 tons, they can go up a league and a half within it. The 
port, or place of embarking belonging to Villia, is still a league 
and a half higher, and the town a quarter of a league distant 
from it; it is very well situated, but its churches are almost 
fallen to ruin, though they are very rich ou the inside. Its 
streets are very straight, and the private houses pretty well built ; 
on the outside of it are a great many hattoes, accompanied with 
very fine savan.as. The town of Nata, which is the nighest, 
stands seven leagues distant from it. 

On the 27th, came a person on board us to redemand onr 
prisoners, with whom we agreed for ten thousand pieces of 
eight ransom, and threatened to cut off all their heads, if they 
did not send us the money by the 29th. But, instead of that, 
he returned to tell us. that the alcaide major had seized upon 
those of their people who were our prisoners, whom we had 
sent ashore to get wherewithal to ransom their wives ; in re- 
venge whereof we presently cut off the heads of two prisoners, 
and gave them the messenger to carry to th? alcaide, telling 
32* 



378 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

him. if he sent us no other answer, we would cut off the heads 
of the rest, and, after having put the women upon an island, 
we would go to take himself. The same person in the evening 
returned to tell us that all the ransoms would come, and that, 
besides'them, they would bestow upon ns ten beeves, twenty: 
sheep, and two packs of meal, the least whereof usually 
weighed a hundred pound, every day as long as we staid. 

On the 30th, they, brought us back the man whom they had 
taken, in exchange for the captain of horse that was onr pris- 
oner; and, as they show themselves very fond of having French 
arms, they pretended to have lost them that belonged to our 
man, for which we made them pay four hundred pieces of 
eight. They proposed to buy them one' of the barks we had 
taken from them, and agreed with us for six hundred pieces of 
eight, and one hundred pounds of nails, of which we stood in 
great need ; whereupon we delivered her up, after we had first 
taken ont her tackle and anchors. They also required a pass- 
port from us, that we would not retake the bark, in case we 
met with her out at sea, but only the goods wherewith she 
should be laden, which we also gave them. 

Next day in the evening, they brought us the ten thousand 
pieces of eight, as had been agreed upon ; then we weighed, 
in order to go anchor at a place that served as a little port to 
a hat to, where they were to give us a hundred and twenty 
salted beeves. We departed from thence on the fourth of 
July, and anchored at the Isle of Iguana, to see and get us some 
water, not daring to go and get us any on the continent that was 
guarded with four thousand men : but after we had cruised in 
some places, and found that the water was brackish, we resolved, 
rather than we would die for thirst, to make a descent with 
two hundred men on the terra jirma, in order to procure us 
some in spite of the Spaniards, whom we found about a hun- 
dred paces from the sea-side lying upon the grass, and, after a 
short fight, put them to flight, seeing we were a people who 
would hazard all for a small matter. This being over, we pres- 
ently filled some casks with water, and reembarked again. 

On the 7th, we weighed anchor, and sailed for the King's 
Isles, and on the 9th anchored at Morne a Puercos, fourteen 
leagues to leeward of the Island Iguana, to take in more 
water, there being nobody there to oppose us : we departed on 
the 10th with a favorable west wind, and that day one of our 
wounded men died. On the 13th, we discovered an island 
called Gal era, which is to leeward of all the King's Islands; 
and on the 14th we began to perceive the currents that 
reign all the year round between those islands, which made us 



TETE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 379 

put farther off to sea. On the 15th we had a north-west wind, 
a fresh gale which brought us near land, and three days after, 
which was the 18th, we discovered Cape Pin, and kept all day 
at the cape, for fear of being discovered by the inhabitants of 
those many islands that were round about us. 

On the 21st, in the evening, we went on board our canoes, 
and landed at'midnight ; but, for all the precaution we had taken, 
we were discovered by the people, that were fishing for oyster 
pearls, which are to be found in great numbers sticking to the 
bottom of the rocks that are round about these islands. On 
the 22d, in the evening, we discovered, from one of these islands 
where we had made a descent, a ship under sail, to whom we 
gave chase, and came up with her two hours before daylight, 
whom, without any more ado, we boarded, and made ourselves 
masters of her. The men on board told us the inhabitants of 
Panama did not think we were so near, and that, as we had 
come from the taking of Villia, they believed we had chose 
rather to have gone and wintered at St. John's Island, where 
they thought still we had built a fort, grounding their persua- 
sions upon those shams, I have before observed, we had for- 
merly made, and still did as we found occasion. They told us 
also that six and thirty English and French were come from 
Peru in a bark, with an intention to pass by the way of the 
River Bocha del Ohica to the North Sea ; but that the Spaniards, 
having intelligence thereof from the Indians, with whom they 
had made peace, since they had granted us passage through 
their country by that same river into the South Sea, went out 
to meet them in great numbers, had defeated the greatest party, 
and brought one prisoner to Panama. Moreover, that two Eng- 
lish parties consisting of forty men each, having an intention 
to pass from the North to the South Sea, had been all of them 
massacred but four, who were still prisoners at Panama ; and, 
lastly, that there was a bark in the River of Bocha del Chica, 
that tarried for eight hundred pounds in gold, dug up in the 
neighboring mines, in order to carry it to Panama. 

On the same day we returned on board our ships, and found 
them at anchor by the greatest of the King's Islands, and or- 
dered our carpenters to make a half galley of the bark we had 
taken on the 26th. We put some questions afresh to the cap- 
tain of the said bark, who told us they were in daily expecta- 
tion at Panama of the' arrival of two ships laden with meal, 
which were to carry also the pay of their soldiers from Lima ; 
upon which information we sent out our half galley, which was 
now finished, to. scout without the islands. On the 30th, we 
departed with our canoes,- and went ashore upon one of these 



380 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

islands, where we surprised a person that was come from Panama, 
whose master was captain of those Greek periaugues, whereof 
we have formerly spoken, who came on purpose thither to be 
taken, to the end he might endeavor by artificial ways to lead 
ns into a snare, of which I am ready to give an account. This 
man immediately pretended a great deal of sincerity, in telling 
us several things, which he knew we were not ignorant of, and 
some others, which we could not quickly and easily come to 
know; and among the rest, that there were in the river of 
Seppa two merchant barks, and a periaugue with sixty Indians 
on board, whom the Spaniards had armed since they made a 
peace with them ; that besides, the governor of Villia had ac- 
quainted the president of Panama, that one of our men, whom 
they had taken, had assured him that thirty more of us, who 
had not been informed of the peace and good understanding 
there was between the Indians and the Spaniards, were about 
to pass from this sea to that of the north, by the same way we 
all of us had come into the South Sea; and that, upon this 
information, the president had sent a hundred men into the 
River of Bocha del Chica, to wait for them. But to compass 
his design, which was to draw us under the forts of Panama, 
he told us in the last place, that they had a little frigate which 
came laden into that port, and a galley that was sent out every 
evening upon the scout. We resolved to take the advantage of 
this information, which we took to be candid and real, and 
not to neglect this opportunity of getting some vessels for our- 
selves, whereof we stood in great need. 

On the 1st of August, we sent our galley for this purpose 
into the River of Seppa. in order to take one of the barks our 
captain spoke of, and at the same time we departed also with 
four canoes to go and seize those ships in the port of Panama, 
being accompanied by our Greek intelligencer, who intended 
to be our guide upon this occasion. He brought us two hours 
before daylight before the town, and as the moon shone very 
bright, we staid for some cloud to obscure it, to facilitate our 
approach undiscovered to the ships in the port, whereof we saw 
one already, which, to our thinking, had her sails loose. And 
here was the lure and snare to which the captain led us ; but 
by the effect of mere chance, or, rather, our own good fortune, 
we turned away to a ship which we unexpectedly saw going 
out of the port, and gave her chase, believing the same to be the 
galley that usually went out to scout, as we had been told. We 
took her without a gun-shot, and upon examination of the cap- 
tain who commanded her, he discovered unto us that the presi- 
dent of Panama had sent us a Greek, who was to suffer himself 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 381 

to be taken by us, and to whom he had promised a very great 
reward, if he succeeded in the project he had formed of de- 
stroying us ; that the means that had been agreed upon to effect 
it, were to bring us under the forts of that town, allured with 
the hopes of taking those ships there, wherewith he had amused 
us, and whereof that which seemed to us to have her sails loose 
was but a sham ship, a pistol-shot from the port, which was 
built upon firm land, of sorry planks ill set together, in which 
they had set up masts, and adorned her with some sails : and 
as this was the most apparent object, and the first that offered 
itself in sight, it was not to be questioned but that we, who 
must believe the same to have been on the water, being de- 
ceived with the darkness of the night, would not have failed 
(being so greedy as we were to take her) to row up to her, 
where our canoes must infallibly run far ashore, and that, in the 
time that must necessarily have been spent in getting them off, 
the Spaniards would have leisure to fall upon us, where they 
did not doubt but so great a number of men as they had in so 
considerable a town as that was, would quickly overpower and 
destroy us. 

This information, which came so seasonably, that it saved 
us from the certain danger we were going to throw ourselves 
into, was not so advantageous to our Greek captain, who being 
known by the captain of the bark for the same person of whose 
treachery he had now advertised us, we paid him for his trouble, 
by sending him to the other world, where he designed to have 
sent us : after which we went to take the Island of Tavoga, 
which had been reinhabited since we had left the coast of 
Panama. • 

From trie 2d at night to the third, we left this island, and 
went to take that of Ottoqua, which is two leagues north and 
south from it, and which we found peopled again. We made 
ready on the 4th to go and join our galley, whom we had ap- 
pointed to rendezvous at the Isle of Sipilla ; but we found her, 
in our passage, with a prize she had taken, being one of the 
barks that were in the River of Seppa, from whence, in coming 
out, she had met with an ambuscade that had killed two of her 
men, and broke the arm of another. 

On the 5th, we saw five sail between Tavoga and Panama ; 
we presently bore up to them, and found they were our own 
ships, that had given chase to a bark come from Nata, laden 
with provision. The mastor thereof finding he could not de- 
fend it, threw himself into the water and swam ashore, after he 
had made some discharges with his small arms upon them. On 
the '6th, we went with our prizes to anchor at Tavoga, and 



382 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

from thence wrote to the president of Panama, that if he 
would not give up the five English and French prisoners he 
had in that place, we would cut off the heads of fifty Spaniards 
we had in our hands. But. hearing no news of him, on the 
7th we weighed, and sailed for the King's Islands. We an- 
chored on the 9th, to stop the leaks of our ships, and while 
that was doing, we departed with our galley and four canoes, 
for the River Boca del Chica, as well to be informed whether 
it was true that the Indians of Sambe had made peace with 
the Spaniards, as we had been assured, as to go and burn all 
that was built of the town called Terrible, upon this fine river, 
that it might be a defence to a gold mine they had near. We 
went also to fight the hundred men, which the Greek told us 
lay in wait for thirty of our freebooters that were to pass into 
the North Sea. 

On the 11th, we arrived at the mouth of the River Boca del 
Chica : we lay at anchor there till midnight, when we weighed, 
and, as the sea swelled, we suffered ourselves to be carried up 
the river at the pleasure of the current. About two in the morn- 
ing our guide, still believing we were far from the place whither 
he was conducting us, made us put on apace, which did us great 
harm, for instead of going to surprise others, we were surprised 
ourselves ; for about a quarter of an' hour after, we saw fire, 
but there was no going back now, for the river made a bow, 
from whence the rapidness of the tide coming in threw us, in 
spite of our teeth, upon these fires, which we came quickly to 
know were kindled by those hundred men we were in quest 
of, for they presently asked us from whence our canoes were 
bound, and being answered by our guide, pursuant to our order, 
from Panama, they asked again who was the commander ; 
and we being long in pitching upon a Spanish name, they gave 
us a full volley. But two paterero-shot, which we made at 
them, having forced them to quit their ground, we passed on 
and anchored out of the reach of their arms, to wait for the 
ebb of tide, that we might get out again ; for, as we could find 
no place to go ashore above them, for the country was full of 
marshes, except at the place where they were, we resolved to 
take them lower down ; and so an hour before daylight, we 
went back before their intrenchment, and after we had put all 
our men under deck, and fired four paterero-shots, wherewith 
we saluted them so opportunely, that we wounded them a great 
many men, and they made no great firing upon us. 

On the 12th, we took a small vessel upon this river, wherein 
were three Indians ; then we went ashore, with an intention to 
attack the Spaniards from behind their intrenchments, which 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 383 

commanded the river only ; but they presently sent out their 
periatigue to take ours which made us expeditiously return on 
board our vessels to defend them, and to alter the manner of our 
attack, by resolving to go to them before their court of guard, 
at the foot whereof we went ashore in spite of all the fire they 
made upon us, which lasted not long ; for our paterero and 
musket-shot killed them a great many men, which made them 
quickly fly, and leave us their intrenchment, where we found 
a great many dead and wounded men, and took some prisoners, 
among whom there was one named Airier. He was an Indian, 
who, out of a blind zeal he had for the interests of the Span- 
iards, took us for them as we were going on board our canoes, 
and reproached us highly ; but we quickly disabused my gen- 
tleman, letting the traitor know to whom we had before been 
so kind in our passage by the same river, that we were become 
his enemies, since he was become ours, and then put him out 
of a condition ever to serve the Spaniards or to injure us. 

Those whom we took prisoners informed us that we were 
discovered at the new town La Terrible, and confirmed the 
account we had before of the massacre of the three parties 
already mentioned, as well those who would have gone to 
the South seas, as the other who were minded to return by 
the way of that river to the north. Within this intrenchment 
we found a letter written by the president of Panama, to a 
camp-master, that commanded in. the town La Terrible, which 
was as follows : — 

" When the enemy took La Villia, one of their men was 
taken, who gave us information that thirty men were to set 
forth by way of the River Boca del Chica, to return to the 
North Sea, as believing there was still a good understanding 
between them and the Indians. I have sent you three hundred 
men to defeat those enemies of God and goodness ; be sure to 
keep upon your guard, be afraid of being surprised, and your 
men will infallibly be gainers in defeating of them." 

Here it may be said,, that the prisoners whom we took were 
highly useful to us, as well by giving us means to subsist in 
these parts as to deliver us from a great many ambushes and 
dangers, whereinto, had it not been for them, we must have 
fallen. Witness this same, where the Spaniards would have 
spared our thirty men the pains of going to the North Sea. At 
last, when we had burnt their court of guard, we took their 
periaugue, with some pounds of gold dust we found there, and 
then went down the river. As for those three Indians whom 
we took in the boat, we sent them to tell their comrades that 
we had killed him who was with the Spaniards, but that we 



384 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

had given them quarter, because they were not amongst them ; 
and this we did to endeavor to make them kind to us, and so 
disunite and separate them from the Spaniards. 

Being got down on the 13th, at noon, to the mouth of the 
river, we met with one of our barks, whom we had ordered to 
come and attend us thither. Those within her told us, that, 
while they waited there, two Indian periaugues being deceived 
with the sight of three or four Spanish prisoners, whom they 
had put upon the deck for that purpose, came of their own 
accord, and delivered themselves up into their hands, with some 
pounds of gold they had found there ; and that one of those 
Indians, who bore great sway amongst his own nation, had a 
commission from the president of Panama to arm several peri- 
augues, and to make war upon us. We weighed that evening 
to go and join our ships that were cruising between Cape Pin 
and King's Islands, and there we waited for those of the Span- 
iards, who, we were told, were to come from Lima. 

We got on board our ships on the 17th, in the morning, and 
that evening, in our passage by the King's Jslands, anchored to 
leave our bark there to be careened. Our people, during our 
absence, had put forty prisoners ashore upon one of those islands, 
who accidentally happening to meet with some canoes, which 
the Spaniards had hid thereabouts, they made use of them to 
get off, and to go to Panama, to inform the governor of the course 
we were to take, and that the ships we had left there were but 
weakly manned ; which induced the president to send some 
force to attack them : but God was pleased so to order it, that 
we were returned with them to the rest of our company. 

On the 20th, we made ready to go to cruise about Tavoga, 
and that evening anchored before the port of Panama, in order 
to learn some news. We saw two ships in the road, whither 
the town canoes went and came all along, without intermis- 
sion ; but, not dreaming they armed them against us, we an- 
chored on the 21st, at Tavoga. 

On the 21st, by break of day, we descried three sail just 
upon us, which we could not discover before, because of one 
of the points of the island, which kept them out of our sight, 
insomuch that one of our ships, that had not time to weigh an- 
chor, slipped her cable. As soon as they saw us make ready, 
they gave us some guns, and as they had the weather-gage, 
they did not spare to make use of the advantage they had over 
us. We made five tacks to get to windward of them, and they 
could not hinder us ; but they lost the wind for want of reso- 
lution, not daring to pass between the Island Tavaguilla and a 
rock, where there was indeed passage for no more than one ship, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 3S5 

but we ventured it, and at last got the weather-gage. We 
fought them till noon, and knew not on which side the advan- 
tage lay ; and, though they plied our decks very close, we still 
persisted to keep them clear of them, which was the occasion 
that they lost a grand opportunity of mending their tackling. 
We threw a great many grenades into their biggest ship, one 
of which had so good an effect as to set fire to some loose 
powder they had, which burnt a great many men, and this 
brought the fight to end sooner than otherwise could have been 
expected : for we came up at the same time with the said ship 
now all on fire, and boldly boarded her, where, notwithstand- 
ing the vigorous resistance they made from the stern, whither 
they had all retired, we at last forced them to beg for quarter, 
and made ourselves masters of the ship. At the same time one 
of our barks boarded one of theirs, and took it. The third, 
that was a kind of a galley, who staid to the last, before she 
began to make her escape, as trusting to her good sailing, see- 
ing herself now pursued by our galley and two periaugues, 
ran herself ashore, where she presently slaved to pieces, and 
but very few of her crew were saved. 

They had in their little frigate fourscore men killed and 
wounded, out of a hundred and twenty that were on board. 
As for the bark, there were no more out of seventy, than eigh- 
teen unhurt ; neither could we see above ten or a dozen in all that 
swam ashore from the other vessel that was staved. All their 
officers were either killed or wounded, and among others, the 
captain, who received five musket-shot. He was the same 
person that fought so stoutly at Pueblo Nuevo, where he had 
received five more, and that had also laid an ambuscade for us 
at La Villia : but this last engagement rid us of him, for he 
died some time after. 

While we were busy in mending the rigging of those ships 
we had taken, and throwing the dead overboard, we discovered 
two sail more come from Panama, which bore up towards us, 
whereupon we interrogated our prisoners, in order to know 
what they should be. They said they did not question but 
this was the relief they sent them. At the same time we be- 
thought ourselves of a stratagem, to amuse and make them 
believe we were taken, which was by putting up Spanish colors 
in our own ships, and in the prizes, with English and French 
ones under them. As soon as these two ships approached, they 
came up to our ship, who received them quite after another 
manner than they expected. Being thus surprised, they fired 
upon .us with precipitation, and made off towards the little 
frigate, which they supposed still to be theirs, who calling to 
33 



386 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

them to lie by, and the others not doing it, they threw some 
grenades into one of their barks, which sent her to the bottom, 
while one of our periaugues boarded the other, wherein they 
found four packs of cords, but all of the same length, which 
they had made ready to tie us up with : but they reckoned 
their chickens before they were well hatched, and these ropes 
was the occasion that no quarter was given to those in the 
bark where they were found. We afterwards read the com- 
mission of the captain of the little frigate, which imported he 
should chase us as far as St. John's Island, and that, when they 
boarded us, they should spare none they found upon deck, but 
only our surgeons, whom they were willing, to save ; and that 
troops of horse should march along the shore, to take care that 
none of us made our escape to land, in any canoe. 

On the 23d, as we sailed away to go to anchor at Tavoga, 
we discovered another sail going back to Panama, whom we 
chased and took ; she was a shallop, whom the president had 
sent to fetch off our anchor, which we had not time to haul up 
the day before, which he came to know by the means of a ca- 
noe, who, passing that way, saw the buoy. But, for all the 
fatigues we had undergone in these adventures, we could not 
but scoff and laugh at the president, who had sent us ropes to 
hang his men, and also sent away to take this anchor where- 
with to anchor our ship in his port, which he believed his men 
would bring in. We anchored this evening at Tavoga. 

We had but one man killed in all the fight ; but there were 
twenty of us wounded, among whom was Captain Townsley, 
who died most of them of their. wounds. Ou the 24th, one of 
our men died, and the same evening we sent one of our pris- 
oners to the president of Panama to carry him a letter, wherein 
we required his giving up the five freebooters who were his 
prisoners, and to send us some medicines for, as we said, the' 
use of his own people, though, in truth, it was for our own ; 
we also complained heavily of the little quarter they had given 
to the three parties whereof I have spoken, whom they had 
inhumanly massacred. He sent to us that night the commander 
of Seppa.who spoke a little French, with the following letter : — 

The President of Panama's Letter. 

"Gentlemen: — I wonder that you, who should understand 
how to make war, should require those men of me that are in 
our custody. Your rashness hath something contrary in it to 
the civility wherewith you ought to treat those people that 
were in your power. If you do not use them well, God will 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 387 

perhaps be on our side on another occasion. And as for the 
little quarter you complain we have given, you see the contrary 
by those that have been in our hands for some time past. If 
you please to put our men you have in your power ashore, we 
will take care to have them cured of their wounds." 

We ordered the said officer to carry him our answer by word 
of mouth, that, if they would not send us our prisoners, we 
would send them the heads of all the Spaniards in our posses- 
sion. On the 25th we weighed anchor, and sailed away for 
fear they should, for an answer, send a fire-ship, as they had 
done by the English two years before, and burn us. On the 
26th in the morning, we anchored at the Isles of Pericos, that 
are not above a league distant from Panama. Towards noon 
we discovered a ship under sail, and sent out our galley to know 
what she was: it was our own long bark that was come from 
careening, wherein were sixty men that were not present in the 
fight. This day two of our wounded men died, though all of 
them were but slightly wounded, which is no matter of wonder, 
for all the Spaniards' bullets were poisoned. 

On the 27th in the morning, came one to us from the bishop, 
(who concerned himself much in this business, for he had 
stirred up the president to fit out ships against us,) who brought 
us a letter, which in substance was the same that follows : — 

The Bishop of Panama's Letter. 

"Gentlemen: — Though the president of Panama hath writ- 
ten to you very inconsiderately, I earnestly desire you to shed no 
more of the innocent blood of those that are in your power, all 
of them having been engaged by constraint to make war against 
you. The president obeys the king's orders, who forbids him 
to restore any prisoners of war : I'll do my endeavor to get the 
men released; take my word, and rest satisfied." 

" I am to acquaint you that all the English are Roman Cath- 
olics, that there is now a church at Jamaica, and that those four 
that are with us, having changed their religion, are willing to 
live amongst us." 

This we saw was only a pretence to detain our men, and 
this sly refusal, together with the trouble we were in, for the 
loss of those who died continually of their wounds, through 
the violence of the poison that had got into them, forced us, 
though with reluctancy, to resolve to send twenty of his peo- 
ple's heads to the president, in a canoe, and ordered him to be 



3S8 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

told, that, if by the 28th he did not send us all our men, we 
would send him the heads of all the rest of the prisoners. I 
confess this was a violent way of proceeding, but we had no 
other method left us to bring the Spaniards to reason ; and we 
knew them to be a people who, without we had showed this 
resolution, would despise, and be so much the more bent to 
ruin us in a short time, by how much the more indifferent we 
showed ourselves ; for they are usually no otherwise courageous, 
than when they believe their enemies are of a dastardly nature. 
On the 2Sth betimes in the morning, came a person on board, 
who brought us our five men, whereof four were English, and 
the other a Frenchman, together with some refreshments for 
the wounded men, and a letter to this purpose : — 

The President of Panama's Letter. 

" I send you all the prisoners I had in my power, and, if 
there had been more, you should have had them delivered ; but, 
as for those that are in your custody, I'll leave that to be man- 
aged according to your own honesty and the practice of war." 

Hereupon we sent him a dozen of the most wounded amongst 
their men, and wrote to him the following letter : — 

A Letter for the President of Panama. 

" Had you used us in this manner when we sent to you for 
the releasement of our five men whom yon sent u,s, you would 
have saved the lives of those wretches whose heads we have 
sent you, and whose death you have been the occasion of. 
We give you a dozen men by way of exchange, and require 
twenty thousand pieces of eight for the ransom of those that 
are still behind. But, in default thereof, we shall put them out 
of condition to send us poisoned bullets again, which is so 
manifest a contravention of the laws and maxims of a just war, 
that if we were minded to punish according to the rigor of 
those rules prescribed thereby, we should not have given one 
man of them quarter." 

Our five men, whom the Spaniards gave up to us, further 
confirmed us in the account we had of the massacring of the 
three fore-mentioned parties in the River of Boca del Chica, 
whereof they themselves were eye-witnesses. About twelve 
o'clock of the same day, which was the 28th, we weighed, 
and anchored again at Tavoga to take in water. And whilst 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 389 

matters were concluded on between the Spaniards and ns, in 
respect to the ransoming of their people, we required they 
should come to a treaty with us, which they consented to, and' 
sent us daily divers canoes full of merchandise and other 
refreshments ; all which we had dog-cheap of them, except meal, 
biscuit, meat, and other provisions which they kept back, the 
reason whereof might be easily guessed at. 

On the 29th their messenger returned, who gave us an 
account that he had been about the city to get the ransom, and 
that they had not got above six thousand pieces of eight 
together ; but as we were eager to be gone, we told them they 
must send us ten thousand pieces of eight, or else we would 
go into the city to fetch them. The effect of this blustering 
was that, on the 1st of November, came a canoe to tell us that 
a bark would bring us next day the sum we demanded ; and 
on the 2d, two of our men died. 

As we saw nothing coming from Panama, we made ready 
and entered into the port, and, when we had hung out our 
main flag, we fired a gun ; they answered our signal by putting 
up a white flag upon one of the bastions of the fort, to give us 
notice that the money was not yet ready, which made us put 
out again, and lie all night at the cape before the mouth of the 
port. Next day came to us a knight of Malta in a bark, where- 
in he brought us ten thousand pieces of eight, and received the 
prisoners from us. On the 5th we anchored at Ottoqua, in 
order to victual our ships ; on the 7th, two of our men died. 

On the 8th, the Indians who had been our guides in our 
passage from the North to the South Sea, and who kept close 
with us ever since, were taken or murdered by the Spaniards 
upon this Island of Ottoqua, in revenge for the service they 
had done us. On the 8th in the morning, we put fifty men 
ashore, to see if they could find the place whereunto the Span- 
iards had withdrawn themselves, whom we could not find in 
their habitations, that we might know what they had done with 
those Indians ; but we could find nothing, save their money 
and baggage, which they had hid in a vault. 

The same day, at noon, Captain Townsley died of his 
wounds. We threw his body into the sea, according to his 
desire, with such ceremonies as are usual upon these occasions. 
On the 10th we weighed, and came to an anchor at King's 
Islands, and, two days after, died one of our wounded men. 
On the 17th we put out with the little frigate and long bark, to 
sail to the port of Panama, to see whether they had any ships 
there that might come to insult us, while our vessels were 
careening. We had a north-west wind, so that we could not 
33* 



390 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

reach the Isles of Pericos before the tenth, when we found 
ourselves under the forts of that town. We furled our low 
sails, and, as the Spaniards saw us bring to, they gave us three 
guns, after they put up the Burgundian colors upon the wind- 
ward bastion. But when we understood there Was no ship in 
that place whereof we might be afraid, we went out cruising 
between Tavog'a and Sippilla, we being resolved to watch those 
two ships that were to come from Lima, and in the mean time 
we sent one of oitr periaugues to bid our men careen the vessels 
with all expedition, and that they need fear no danger from 
Panama. We had very bad weather in this channel ; it blew 
round all the points of the compass with such violent whirl- 
winds, that the sea grew very boisterous. But, on the 28th, 
the weather proving more moderate, we discovered a ship sail- 
ing all along the coast of the main land, after which we sent 
two periaugues in chase. She would- have entered into the 
port of Panama, but they firing upon her from the fort, as 
believing she was one of our ships, she passed by, and our 
periaugues took her. She came from Nato, and was laden 
with provisions and sugars, which she was carrying to our 
enemies, who had the charity to put her back to us. 

On the 11th, being not able to see any thing of what we 
waited for, we sailed for the King's Islands, and, as the moon 
shone bright, we found the currents very strong there also, 
which obliged us to anchor in the channel, with all the tides 
contrary to us, from twenty to forty fathoms of water. We 
arrived on the 16th, at the island where our ships were careen- 
ing, and found them already done. 

The sea round about these King's Islands, whereof I have 
spoken so much, is full of a great many very large whales, who 
are infested by a fish they call espadon, that assaults them con- 
tinually with a kind of fish-bone, like unto a sabre, fastened to 
their heads ; and this makes those monstrous animals to give 
such leaps and rebounds, that they raise themselves continually 
above the water. But to return from a great fish to a small 
one, I shall say, that, besides pearl oysters, which are to be 
found iu those parts in great numbers ; there are also others that 
are exceeding good, antl so large that they are forced to cut 
them into four parts to eat them, and they are, when roasted, 
exceeding white. 

We departed on, the 18th, and sailed for those islands that 
are in the main, where we came to an anchor on the 19th in 
the morning, and on the 20th put out with our galley and two 
periaugues to go to a sugar plantation, which stands two leagues 
to leeward of Panama, giving orders at the same time to our 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 



391 




392 THP BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ships to come and anchor there three days after us. We pos- 
sessed ourselves of the said plantation, and seized all the peo- 
ple belonging thereto, who told us there was a courier come 
from Chiriquita to Panama, who reported he had seen two ships, 
and as many barks, belonging to the freebooters, anchor at the 
port of that town, who came for provision there; wherewith 
we were somewhat surprised, and could hardly believe those 
freebooters would have left so good a coast as that of Peru was, 
(whither we knew they were gone,) to come thither, which is 
much worse ; which difference arises from no other than the 
abundance and quality of the provisions that the former pro- 
duceth, whereof I shall give you an account hereafter. We 
were also informed by these prisoners, as it was very true, that 
a galley, which we knew well enough was in building at Pan- 
ama, was finished ; that she carried fifty-two oars, five pieces 
of cannon, and forty patereroes ; that there were, what with 
those come from Carthagena and Porto Bello, five hundred men 
come to go on board her and two periaugues, and that they 
watched the opportunity of our passing before their port, as we 
had used to do, to the end they might put out in the night, 
and surprise us during the absence of our other ships, whom 
they supposed to be still careening. On the 24th we anchored 
at Ottoqua, to gather mace and rice that was still standing on 
the ground; and next day being apprehensive, according to 
the report of our prisoners, that there might be freebooters at 
Chiriquita, we sent a bark thither to give them notice, if she 
found it to be really so, that we would come up to them as 
soon as we had taken in some provision along the coast. We 
put nineteen prisoners, on the 29th, ashore, and made ready to 
depart with an easterly wind. We were got, on the 30th in 
the morning, over against the Bay of La Villia; we straight- 
ened our round top, being afraid to come by it. We embarked 
in the evening on our canoes, and on the 31st at midnight went 
ashore. We were quickly discovered by a party that went the 
rounds, which made us use all the diligence imaginable in 
order to get into the town, before they had time to make them- 
selves ready. But our guide having led us out of the way, 
another party making the round passed by, who no sooner saw 
us, but they made all the haste they could to get away, yet we 
fired upon them presently, which dismounted three of them, 
and one we took prisoner, who told us we were still three 
leagues distant from La Villia, and that we were gone out of 
our way ; that all the people there were at their arms, and 
that they had had a reenforcement of six hundred men sent 
them from Panama. Upon this information we stopped short, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. , 393 

and were forced to return back again, because we knew very 
well that we were discovered, and that so we lost all our labor. 
Before we went on board, we went to eat to an dstanciathat was 
half a league off from the seaside, from whence the Spaniards 
brought us back, by charging our rear from time to time, till 
that we had rejoined our canoes, whereon when we had reem- 
barked, we found ourselves so weary and fatigued, that we 
deferred till next day to go and join our ship, and this being 
perceived by the Spaniards, they fired so furiously upon us, 
that we were constrained to lie at anchor farther from the shore. 

On the 2d of November we rejoined our ships that were 
cruising in that bay. In the evening we anchored between the 
Island of Iguana and the continent over against some hattoes 
we saw there, with a design to go and see for some provision ; 
to which end we went ashore on the 3d at noon, where we 
found the Spaniards got together, with whom we fought for half 
an hour ; they killed us one man, and wounded another. But 
they could not hinder us to go to the next hatto, where we 
found no sort of cattle, for the Spaniards had carried away and 
drove them before them ; here we lay this night, but the 
Spaniards being unwilling to let us have any rest, we were 
forced at midnight to march out against them, and made them 
quit the field to us. 

On the 4th we returned on board our vessels, having brought 
only some little refreshments along with us to our wounded 
men, and that evening sailed away with a west wind, keeping 
out to sea to the 5th at noon, when we returned to land ; at 
midnight we steered S. S. E., as near the wind as we could 
till the 6th, that we were brought back to the shore ; about the 
middle of the following night we discovered a vessel under sail, 
and joined her. It was the bark that we had sent to Chiriquita, 
who, meeting with very bad weather, was constrained to put 
back under the Morne or Cape of Puercos. On the 7th, being 
not able to double the Morne, because of the contrary west 
winds, we sent our galley to Chiriquita, instead of our bark; 
we could not double the Morne before the 12th ; and we had 
a blast of wind on the night, that, in itself, was favorable 
enough for our course, but the currents carried us so to leeward, 
that we were still on the 13th six leagues to leeward of the 
Morne. We steered W. N. W., bearing upon the Isle of Tigers, 
the which stands six leagues north and south from the conti- 
nent, between the River of St. James and this Morne or Cape 
of Puercos. On the 14th at night, we were apprehensive, lest 
we should be driven too near the shore. 

On the 16th we arrived at St. John's Island, where we met 



394 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

with our galley returned from Chiriquita, having found nothing 
of what she sought for ill that place ; which still increased the 
suspicion we had already entertained, that the president ot 
Panama had caused a false report to be spread abroad, that some 
freebooters had been there, that so he might get us to quit his 
port, and make way, by our absence, for those ships that were 
expected from Peru to enter into Panama ; and this so much 
the more heightened our courage, in thaj we came to under- 
stand, one day after another, the cowardice and dastardly nature 
of this proud nation, who, with her three-decked ships, mounted 
each of them with eighteen pieces of cannon, and having four 
hundred men on board, were afraid of pitiful barks who had 
but four guns and some patereroes in all, with which, however, 
we waited for them. 

On the 18th, we brought our galleys and canoes ashore, in 
order to clean them : two days after, we departed with an inten- 
tion to take some prisoners, from whom we might obtain cer- 
tain intelligence of the truth or falsehood of any freebooters 
having been at Chiriquita, for they might have been gone before 
we had sent thither; and upon our departure, we appointed our 
ships to rendezvous at the Isle of St. Peter, there to tarry till 
we returned. On the morning of the 24th, we went ashore 
two leagues to the leeward of the River Pueblo Neuvo, where, 
after we had travelled till about four in the afternoon, to dis- 
cover some houses, we saw two horsemen, one of whom we 
dismounted, but he made his escape, and took the other, of 
whom we asked where we were ; and being informed that there 
was, about half a league from thence, a borough called St. Lo- 
renzo, we went that way, and arrived there in the twilight. 
Here we took a great many prisoners, who told us they had 
heard of no freebooters from the time we had taken Chiriquita, 
which now fully confirmed us in a belief of the amusement 
the president of Panama had entertained us with. On the 26th, 
we returned to the seaside with our prisoners, and discovered 
our ships that were sailing to the place of rendezvous, to whom 
we sent a canoe, to give them notice to come and anchor at an 
island which is over against, and three quarters of a league 
distant from, the port of St. Lorenzo. 

This borough stands a league and a half within land, and is 
in my opinion no more than a village ; it is inhabited partly 
with Spaniards, and partly with Indians, who, as I have already 
said, have been reduced by degrees, and submitted themselves 
to the Spaniards. It is a very open country, and a man is so 
far from being sure of what place he is in, that he would believe 
himself to be at Chiriquita when here, so like is the one to the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 395 

other, as well in respect to the borough and places adjacent, 
as for the course and disposition of the rivers, wherewith it 
is watered. 

On the 26th, in the evening, we went on board our ships 
with our prisoners, and agreed with them upon what quantity 
of provision they were to give us for their ransom : on the 27th 
we sent the father or curate of the place ashore, to despatch the 
sending of it. On the 28th, the English, who made part of 
our fleet, desired us to come together, in order to make a divis- 
ion of the ships and artillery we had taken, as being desirous 
to be in a ship by themselves ; which was presently done. On 
the 1st of December we sent a canoe to the continent, and the 
men. that were in. her told us they had seen a troop of horse, 
who threatened them at a distance with their cutlasses, which 
made us at night, to the number of a hundred men, go ashore 
to see them. On the 2d, we waited for them in their town of 
St. Lorenzo, but nobody appearing, we burnt it. As soon as 
the Spaniards saw the fire, the commander of the place came 
to offer us a sum of money for the ransom of the prisoners, 
which we refused, because we had much more need of provis- 
ion. We told them, if they did not send us the same, pursuant 
to the agreement we had already made with their people, they 
should have no more to do than to send for their heads away 
from the. island. In the said commander's house we found the 
following letter, written by the Tenient of Chiriquita. — ■ 

A Letter from the Tenient of Chiriquita to the Commander 
of the Town of St. Lorenzo. 

" Sir: — I have sent you, by way of reenforcement, all the 
men which I could get together. Use your endeavors to take 
one or other of the enemy, to the end we may know what they 
design, to do, about which our generals are mightily concerned. 
Order the cattle to be drove away from the seaside, and put 
them into a place fit to lay an ambuscade, to the end that the 
enemy, severing from one another, according to their usual 
manner, in order to kill them, it may be so much the more easy 
for you to secure some one of them. But if you cannot do 
that, lay au ambuscade at a place where you think they will 
put our prisoners ashore, and let them show you those persons 
whom they have observed to be most respected on shipboard ; 
so that if God gives us the advantage over them, do not you 
cut them off, but send them to me. Especially interrogate the 
women, that you may know whether they have met with some 
weak fellow that hath made any discovery unto them." 



396 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

This letter made us keep more upon our guard than other- 
wise we would have done, and we returned on board our ship 
that evening. On the 3d, we went in a canoe ashore, to see 
whether they had brought the provision agreed upon for the 
ransom of their people ; but instead of that, we saw them busy 
in raising an intrenchrnent near the place where they expected 
we should make our descent, which gave us to understand they 
pursued the orders prescribed to them by the aforesaid letter. 
On the 4th, we put those prisoners ashore upon the island where 
we had anchored, and left them there, without any further 
expecting of their ransom, so that we might secure ourselves 
against that ambuscade whereinto we must have fallen, had we 
sent them to the same place where we took them. 

In the evening we weighed and sailed for the Bay of Boca 
del Toro, with an easterly breeze that put us forward. On the 
5th, we doubled the point of Porica, which is ten leagues to 
leeward of that bay ; at the height whereof, we were becalmed 
till the 10th : when, towards evening, a small wind blowing 
from the sea arose, which brought us to the mouth of the bay. 
But the same was followed by so terrible a tempest, that our 
ship lay for an hour in such a manner, that she was under water 
as far as her great scuttle ; and what amazed us was, that our 
ropes, sheets, and clewings were cut so cleverly, as if the same 
had been done with a hatchet. However, this tearing of our 
rigging served us in good stead, for had it not been for that, 
we had quickly gone to be meat for fishes ; for our sails, being 
held by no other than the wind and arms alone, the sail-yards 
yet stretched themselves out along the masts, and our ship by 
little and little happily recovered herself. The wind was al- 
layed in the dusk of the evening by a great deal of rain that 
fell, wherewith we were becaimed ; and on the 11th, we had 
a southerly wind, which brought us to an anchor in the bottom 
of the bay. 

The mouth of this Bay of Boca del Toro is about four or 
five leagues in extent from one point to another, and eight in 
depth. If you would enter it with safety, you must keep the 
whip of your rudder to starboard, because it is dangerous to 
keep to the east side. Here is good anchorage every where, 
and also a covert ; one may anchor in the bottom of the bay, 
within pistol-shot of land. 

There are four islands contained in it, that stand very near 
unto the main land to the east and north-east ; but it is not 
safe to lie near them, because of the many rocks that are there. 
Several fine rivers discharge themselves into it, and lead us up 
them to divers Indian carbets, who have neither peace, nor are 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 397 

in amity with any people whatsoever, no more than those whom 
I have mentioned when I spoke of Cape La Yella and Boca del 
Drago, which yet does not hinder the Spaniards from passing 
their caravans through the midst of their country, when they 
come from Costa Rica to Panama : but then they must be very 
well guarded, and the great road, through which they pass, is 
not above six leagues from the sea-side. 

On the 12th, we went to find out trees fit both to make ca- 
noes of for carrying our watej, and canoes of war. On the 
25th, being Christmas day, after we had, according to custom, 
said our prayers in the night, one of our quarter-masters, being 
gone ashore, in order to take care about our eating some vict- 
uals, (for our ships being a careening, all our provisions were 
then put out,) one of our prisoners, who served us as cook, stab- 
bed him with a knife, in six several places ; wherewith crying 
out, he was presently relieved, and the assassin punished with 
death. 



CHAPTER LIV. 

The Freebooters' Voyage to the South Seas in 1687. 

On the 1st of January, 1687, our canoes being ready, we left 
this bay and sailed for that of Caldaira, that we might victual 
there, and make an end of careening our ships. We left them 
there on the 2d, after we had given orders to those who had 
the charge of them, to come and join us in the bay, and we 
embarked two hundred men in our canoes, to cross over to La 
Cagna, which is a small island very inconvenient to draw near to, 
and stands about a league north and south from the main land, 
between Boca del Toro and Caldaira. We were six days in 
our passage before we could get thither, having only put for- 
ward in the night, for fear of being discovered. Being come 
on the 6th at night into the bay, our guide made us put in 
under a covert, and told us that, to prevent our being discov- 
ered, we should go ashore in that place ; which we had no 
sooner done, but we were conducted into a marish, in the 
soundest places whereof we sunk in the mud to the very mid- 
dle, insomuch that five of our men, of whom we could see no 
more than their heads, did not give us a small trouble to pull 
them out with cords we made fast to mangles, which are trees 
of that name growing in this marish. So that, not knowing 
34 



398 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

how we should be able to free ourselves from this wretched place, 
we lifted up our guide to the top of a tree, to endeavor, by the help 
of moonlight, to discover how far we might be from sound land. 
But he, finding himself now at liberty, skipped like a monkey 
from tree to tree, and railed all the while at us, who could nei- 
ther see him, nor do any more than threaten him, which I 
believe he little mattered. We spent the rest of the night in 
making about a hundred steps in this sweet place, where we 
exactly went the rounds, and from whence we could not come 
out till break of day, and not then neither, without being be- 
daubed all over from top to toe, and having our arms laden with 
mud. When we were in a condition to reflect a little upon 
ourselves, and that we saw two hundred men in the same habit, 
and so curiously equipped, there was not one of us who forgot 
not his toil, to laugh at the posture he found both himself and the 
rest in. At length, after having inveighed against our guide 
who had so cunningly saved himself when he saw us stuck 
fast in the mire, we went into our canoes again, where we 
cleaned ourselves as well as we could, as we did also our arms, 
and, after having left our covert, we met with a very pretty river, 
whereinto we entered, and went up it about two leagues, where 
we landed at an intrenchment. There we found the remains 
of the two ships which the Spanish had burnt, when an Eng- 
lish freebooter, whose name was Betsharp, came to careen in 
this bay, which made us suppose, according to the relation that 
had been given us concerning it, that it was the embarking place 
belonging to Nicoya. We followed the road we found there, 
and marching about two leagues, at the end of them we entered, 
by the help of the barking of the dogs, into a borough called 
Sancta Catalina, where we* took all the inhabitants prisoners. 
Now as we were informed by them there, that there was no 
more than three leagues to Nicoya, we mounted sixty men on 
horseback, in order to go thither ; but we met half way with 
horsemen, whom we could not reach, and who, returning back 
with full speed, gave the inhabitants notice of our march to- 
wards them, insomuch that, by the time we got thither, they 
had already hid all their effects, and were expecting our coming 
upon the place of arms, from whence we drove them, after we 
had sustained their first discharge, with which they neither 
killed nor wounded one of our men. While we were gather- 
ing what provision we could together, we sent out small parties 
into the neighboring places, who brought us some money, and, 
among other things, the governor's plate, and all his movables. 
On the 8th we left the town, and went to rejoin our people 
at Sancta Catalina, where we staid the remainder of that day 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 399 

At night came two of the enemy's sentinels thither, one of 
whom we killed; for they, not knowing we were in the town, 
were come to give the Spaniards notice that they saw three 
sail of ships enter into the bay, and that they were enemies. 
But this intelligence came too late. On the 9th we left this 
place to go and join oar canoes again, on which being em- 
barked, we left one of our prisoners ashore to go and raise the 
ransom of those we carried along with ns ; and, on the 10th, 
we got on board our ships that lay at anchor in the bay. We 
had found among the governor of Nicoya's papers three letters, 
which are these that follow : — 

The Governor or General of the Province of Costa Rica, his 
Letter to the President of Panama, dated May 2, 16S6. 

"Sir: — This letter is to let you know of the taking of our 
dear town of Granada by pirates, on the 10th of the last month. 
They came ashore at a place where we had no sentinels, we 
supposing there was no occasion for it, because the sea is so 
high there ; they passed on across a wood like so many wild 
beasts. We had the good fortune to have notice of it by our 
fishermen, though we were already upon our guard ever since 
the news we had concerning them from Lesparso and Nicoya. 
They lay on the 9th at the fine house of Don Diego Ravalo, 
knight of St. James; we were very well prepared to receive 
them, but the way of fighting practised by these men did so 
much astonish ours, that we could not make that resistance we 
had promised ourselves we should do. They fell on briskly, 
singing and dancing, as if they had been going to a feast ; at 
"length, after we had been fought bravely by them, they won 
the place of arms, with the loss of thirty of their men, accord- 
ing to the estimate of Don Antonio de Fortuna, a person of 
good experience -in war, who came to us some months before. 
We are also of opinion that they have lost their general, for we 
saw a man, that distinguished himself from the rest by his 
habit, fall. 

After they had staid for the space of four days in our fort, 
they sent to require us to ransom the town and prisoners 
they had taken ; but, we being not very forward to return an 
answer to their proposal, they burnt it, and went their ways. 
Seignior Don John de Castilla, serjeant-major, went out to' 
observe them with his men ; but not knowing they took away 
our artillery, he attacked these enemies of God and goodness 
about a mile from the town ; but they, being resolved to make 
their way through, or to die upon the spot, slew so great a 



400 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

number of his men, that the rest fled, and left their com- 
mander alone. 

We have taken one of their men, who told us they came to 
our province upon no other design than to know the strength 
of it, though it is not to be doubted, if they had. found our 
vessels at anchor, but they would have made use of them t« 
pass by the way of our lake to the North Sea, and have aban- 
doned their comrades, who looked after their ships, and their 
way would have been infallibly by Carthage. Monsieur, the 
governor, takes his measures thereupon, and continues to fortify 
his entrenchment. I shall give you a more ample account of 
this business by the first caravan." 

The President of Panama's Letter to the Governor of 
Costa Rica. 

"Sir: — This is to give you notice of the advices I have 
received from Carthagena, by the way of Puerto Bello. The 
king of France, supposing he had received some affront from 
our nation, sent eighty sail of all sorts before Calix, to demand 
contribution ; and, seeing there was so vast an inequality of 
force upon this occasion, we agreed to give him half a million 
to withdraw his ships, and return to their ports. 

" You know that my lord bishop, on the 22d of August, 
forced me to send out three ships to fight the pirates, that still 
continued before our port and took all the barks and canoes 
that were coming on. Onr ships surprised them at break of 
day, which made one of the pirates slip his cable ; and this 
was done, not for to fly away, but through the skill of the 
commander. I saw the fight from my ramparts, the honor 
whereof I thought infallibly to have appertained unto us. 
Having seen them draw near the shore, I sent a shallop to bring 
away the anchor of that vessel that had slipped her cable, in 
order to fasten her in our port. As soon as ever I saw them 
ungrappled, I despatched away two long barks or galleys, to go 
and learn the news, and to bring those of the enemy that sur- 
vived before me, though my orders were, that no quarter should 
.be given to any that were found upon deck, to the end we 
might rid the world of these enemies of God and his saints, 
who profane his churches, and destroy his servants. In the 
evening they sent one of our men to require me to give up 
five men of theirs, that I had prisoners in my town, and, as my 
prince forbade me to do so, I refused it ; but these new Turks 
.sent me twenty heads, and I bethought myself, that, for the 
preventing of the slaughter of so many Christians, I ought to 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 401 

send them their men, with ten thousand pieces of eight, for the 
ransom of ninety of our people, that were almost all wounded, 
which they sent us out of three hundred and thirty they had 
taken with them. Thus you see how God is pleased to afflict 
us on all sides — let us take all for the sake of his sufferings 
for us." 

The Tenient of SansonaVs Letter to the President of Panama. 

" Captain Francis Grognier is separated from his fleet at Re- 
alegno, and gone ashore with a hundred and fifty men upon 
the Isles of Napalla. We took three of their men, who told 
us, that those of them, that were gone up towards Panama, 
had a design to return to the North Sea. The peace we have 
made with the Indians will do us more hurt than good : we 
were concerned, at least, to observe their motion, and stop up 
that passage. Those people, seeing no place whereunto to 
retire, became as so many enraged dogs. We had no need of 
that, for wherever these irreligious wretches set their feet on 
land, they always win the victory. If you please, let them 
have free passage, that we may be at rest. They came ten or 
a dozen times ashore, without knowing what they wanted. 
Send us a man who understands the way of sea fighting, for I 
am of opinion they will never be able to get off from these 
islands, and so it will be convenient to go and take them there." 

On the 12th, as we saw no ransom come, we set out to go 
ourselves to Nicoya, to fetch it, where we arrived next day ; 
we sent out several parties also in search of some victuals, 
which the people had hid, and sent one to treat with them 
about the ransoming of their town. The tenient told us the 
governor was gone for relief to Costa Rica, and that he had no 
orders to pay any ransom, further than what had been agreed 
on for the prisoners, which was all ready, and that he would 
not have us be impatient, if we received not the same as soon 
as we desired it, because they having no canoes, whereby to 
send the money to us by sea, which might have been done in 
half a day's time, (the passage was so short that way,) had been 
obliged to have it carried on mules' backs by land, which was 
four days' journey. When we had received this answer, we sent 
again to tell him that our intention was to have been gone next 
day, but that however, seeing he waited in expectation of suc- 
cors, we would wait also ; but at length, growing impatient that 
things were so long retarded, we went our ways on the 17th.* 

Two days after, being the 19th, they came to the seu-side, 
34* 



402 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

over against the place where our vessels lay at anchor, and 
brought us the ransom they had promised for the prisoners, 
whom we sent ashore at the same time. We gave them a let- 
ter, which we wrote to the governor, wherein we sent him 
word, if he would let us know when his reenforcement came, 
we should not fail to attend him ; and that in the mean time, 
if he did not send us so many horse-load of biscuit and mace, 
as we required of him for the ransom of the town, he might 
assure himself we should go and burn it. 

On the 20th, we weighed anchor, and went to one of the 
islands in this bay to careen. our vessels. On the 22d, we went 
off in our canoes, leaving no more men with our ships than 
were necessary to careen them, and sought out some hattoes, 
where we might get necessary subsistence, to the end we might 
lay by, and keep in store those provisions we had got together 
on board, and whereof we should have occasion in the execu- 
tion of an enterprise we had formed upon the town of Q,uea- 
quilla. On the 22d, at night, we went ashore at Caldaira, where 
we were discovered by the sentinels, who, as they made their 
escapes, set fire unto the savannas, in order to stop our passage ; 
however, this did not hinder us to reach the little town of Les- 
parso, which had been almost entirely abandoned since the 
time of our being there before. 

On the 23d, we had the curiosity, or rather humor, to pursue 
the first road that offered itself to our view at our departure ; 
and after we had marched about a league on, we discovered 
about two hundred horse upon our flank, and in our rear. A 
Spaniard, who was advanced before the rest, made a thousand 
mouths at us, and reviled us as much, which gave us an occa- 
sion to hide five of our men that were behind the rest, in the 
grass, that was exceeding high upon both sides of the way, and 
leave our main body to march on ; so that when our Spaniard, 
who still followed our people, went to pass forwards, he was 
quickly dismounted, and we made him make a grimace in good 
earnest. We questioned him according to our usual ceremony, 
that is to say, by putting him on the rack, about the place 
where we were. He told us we were on the highway of Car- 
thage, and that all places were quite forsaken from thence to 
this town, which was no less than twenty-seven leagues, out- 
of an apprehension his country had, lest we should go and force 
them to grant us passage to the North Sea, as their chief offi- 
cers had caused it to be reported among them. He also gave 
us information, that they had four hundred men making their 
♦rounds, whereof the two hundred we saw were of that number, 
being detached to observe the time of our landing, that sc they 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 403 

might retire to a strong entrenchment they had six leagues on 
this side the town, for to beat us back, in case we made that 
way. Being thus pre-admonished, we thought it not conven- 
ient to go any further, our design being no other than to 
know the country, and to get us some victuals ; so we returned 
to Lesparso, and on the 24th, rejoined our canoes. 

On the 26th, we went ashore under the guidance of our new 
prisoner, who brought us to a sugar plantation, where we di- 
vided into two companies to go to two hattoes, and took all the 
people we could meet with there, who informed us, that several 
other hattoes and sugar plantations in the neighborhood had 
all together sent out two hundred armed men, who were gone 
in the evening to beat back the crew of three of the enemy's 
canoes, that had landed at Colebra, where they had killed and 
wounded divers Spaniards. We presently imagined it must 
have been Captain Grognier, that was come up that coast, and 
therein we were not mistaken ; we immediately returned back 
to the sea-side, to go with our canoes to meet him, and in our 
way heard the noise of several cannon-shot and small arms, 
towards the place where we had left our ship careening, which 
made us double our pace, and reembark in our canoes. 

As soon as we were got on board our ships, we found Cap- 
tain Grognier, with three canoes there, who with his crew, had 
been conducted to the said place by one of our canoes, whom 
they had fortunately met in crossing this bay ; and the firing 
we had heard, was made by the one and the other, for joy of 
their meeting together. 

Grognier told us, that he came up this coast with an inten- 
tion to find out an uninhabited place, to the end he might land 
without opposition, and to fetch a compass across the country, 
to get to the North Sea. We laid the danger whereunto he 
must necessarily expose so small a number of men before him, 
(they being no more than sixty in all,) that if he were resolved 
to undertake so dangerous an enterprise, it were better he would 
stay with us until we found a favorable opportunity to repass 
together to that sea, as being better able conjointly to surmount 
those difficulties which we might be exposed to thereby. 
Being overcome with our reasons, he staid with us; and after 
we had given him an account of the adventures we had had 
since our separation from him, he also, in his turn, entertained 
us with a recital of his, and told us, he had made several 
descents in the Bay of Napalla, with various success, and that 
among other things, in one of those descents, the Spaniards 
had taken three of his men, who had been exchanged some 
time after for other prisoners ; but that the Spaniards had so 



404 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

far corrupted those three men with the fine promises they made 
them, while they were in their custody, that upon their return, 
they insinuated into their comrades, in order to betray them, a 
design of going to a very considerable gold mine, which was 
fourteen leagues off from the sea-side, and as many from Tinsi- 
gal, and that being prepossessed of making their fortunes there, 
they had left the island where they were, to the number of a 
hundred and twelve men, and went ashore upon the continent, 
with an intention to go to that mine, under the guidance of the 
prisoners, who knew the way, and towards which they jour- 
neyed only in the night time, for fear of being discovered ; 
thai those three men who had been exchanged, and sold their 
friends to the Spaniards, pretended they were weary, and had 
occasion to rest, that so they might not go with the rest ; that 
for all this, they departed two hours after, bringing to the Span- 
iards, who waited in a convenient place for them, all the pris- 
oners that were ashore in the said bay, and, after some time, 
carried off the arms and ammunition of all the rest of our com- 
pany that staid behind upon the island, who had no mistrust of 
them, whereof they laded a canoe ; but that the treachery, in 
the mean time, had' not had all the projected»effect, and that he 
and his men got to the mine without opposition, because the 
Spaniards, who had made all things ready for massacring of 
them, when going ashore, got thither later than they should 
have done, and that through the fault of our renegadoes, who 
had too much precipitated the departure of their comrades 
whom they thus saved by pressing them on to their ruin. That 
they had got no great purchase at the mines, because there had 
been orders given before for saving their treasure ; though, after 
all, it was not above an hour's space that they had got away 
four hundred and fifty pounds of gold, that was already pre- 
pared. That yet they found some pounds still left, and took 
some prisoners, who were surprised by them, as not expecting 
their company so soon, and that they also did believe they 
had been defeated by the way, as the design had been formed 
against them. 

That when they had staid two days at this mine, and being 
intent upon returning with his men to the sea-side, he met with 
a body of Spaniards on the way, "waiting his coming, and mak- 
ing a mean, as if they would, now upon his return, make 
amends for the fault they had committed, in not preventing his 
descent. Their commander sent a trumpet to Captain Grog- 
nier, to know if he were minded to fight ; who being answered 
that he desired nothing more, the Spaniards seut a second 
time to tell him, that, if he would give up his prisoners, tjiey 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 405 

would grant him free passage ; but he boldly answered, that, if 
they desired to have them, they must come and fetch them by 
the help of their arms ; and, as for the passage, he would open 
his way through in spite of them. That, having made them- 
selves ready, the Spaniards had not the courage to stay for 
them, contenting themselves only with firing a few muskets at 
a distance, and so fairly took to their heels, while he pursued 
his march towards his canoes, which had, as good luck would 
have it, been left in a place where the renegadoes could not 
show them to the enemy. 

He told us moreover, that, some time after his return from 
that mine, they had been at Pueblo Viego, by the way of a 
river that runs not above four leagues, and discharges herself 
into the Bay of Napalla ; that they had surprised the town, 
and that, after having rested there for some days, as they were 
coming back to rejoin their canoes, they had met with an am- 
buscade, laid for them under the covert of an entrenchment, 
guarded by six hundred men out of the garrison of Realeguo, 
which began to be inhabited again, with whom they had fought 
a long time. But, finding the Spaniards stood to it more tightly 
than ordinary, they threw themselves into their entrenchment, 
where, killing all about them that made any resistance, they 
wrought a great slaughter amongst them ; that one part of them 
continued prisoners, while the other fled without any more ado, 
and forsook their entrenchments as well as the three colors that 
they had set up there. That the freebooters had lost no more 
than three men, but that the Spaniards in the heat of the action 
killed several prisoners of the one and the other sex, which the 
other had brought away from the town, who after this went on 
board their vessels. That some months after, not concurring 
with a design which fourscore and five of his men had taken, 
of going down towards the Isles of California, he had resolved 
with the sixty that remained with him to go up towards Pana- 
ma, where happening, as I have told you, to meet us, we gave 
both him and his men room in our ships, where we learned this 
whole relation from them. 

On the 30th we quitted our ships, and went in our canoes 
into several rivers which discharge themselves into this Bay of 
Caldaira ; and, amongst the rest, into a very fine one, whereon 
we went up ten leagues, in all which space we always found 
her of the same depth and breadth. Several Spaniards told us, 
that, a matter of forty or fifty leagues higher," there was a moun- 
tain, from whence arises the spring of this river ; and, on the 
other side of the same mountain, arises also a spring, from 
which runs the River St. John, that discharges itself into the 
North Sea at the White Point. 



406 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

We took a large canoe, laden with tallow, in this river, which 
some time after was of great use to us, by way of food, as we went 
to Q.ueaquiHa. We also found some hattoes on this river's side, 
where we refreshed ourselves till the 6th of February, when 
we returned on board our ships. On the 12th we departed, in 
order to go the third time and visit Nicoya ; we arrived there 
next day in the evening, and presently detached several parties 
to get us intelligence concerning the Spaniards, who never ap- 
peared since they had threatened us with their succors, instead 
of the ransom we required of them for saving their town, which 
they still refusing to satisfy us for, we burnt it this third time, 
and, on the 17th, went our ways. 

But though we were forced to chastise the Spaniards in this 
manner, we showed ourselves very exact in the preservation of 
the churches, into which we carried the pictures and images of 
the saints which we found in particular houses, that they might 
not be exposed to the rage and burning of the English, who 
were not much pleased with these sorts of precautions ; they 
being men who took more satisfaction and pleasure to see one 
church burnt, than all the houses of America put together. 
But, as it was our turn now to be the stronger party, they durst 
do nothing that derogated from that respect we bore to all 
those things. 

Nicoya was a small town, pleasant enough taken altogether ; 
its churches are very fine, and the houses as ill built ; they have 
a pretty river there, that runs about one half of the town 
round ; but, when one is within, you cannot know which way 
it is you have entered, nor how to go out, because of the 
height of the mountains wherewith it is surrounded every way. 

We were no sooner gone from this town, but the Spaniards 
sent to set fire to the roads through which we were to pass, 
which yet we happily escaped, because they had but just begun 
to do it. We took one of their men who was hemmed in be- 
tween us and the fire, and who conducted us to several estan- 
cias, from which we did not return before the 20th. And, on 
the 22d, we put forty prisoners ashore, who were too chargeable 
to be kept on board with us. 

Some men, perhaps, may be amazed at what I have said con- 
cerning the burning of the roads, but they would be much 
more so, had they seen it as we have done. There were two 
sorts of places where this burning was wont to be practised, 
to wit, in the savannas and woods; when the former were set 
on fire, whose grass was almost as high as our heads, and also 
as dry, in a manner, as powdur, we found ourselves so besieged 
on the right and left side of the road with the flame, that it made 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 407 

us feel it to some purpose, though the same were of no long 
duration. But when these roads lead through covert and. woody 
countries, as in the present occasion whereof I am speaking, 
and that ouce fire be set thereunto, one may see, according to 
the course of the wind, the country for several leagues burnt 
in a little time, to which the dryness of things doth very much 
contribute, the sun being exceeding hot at that season. 

On the 23d we sent our quarter-master on board the English, 
to make an agreement with them. We proposed to go in con- 
junction with them to take Q,ueaquilla, (where the Spaniards 
drove a great trade by sea,) upon condition that, if we took 
two ships, we should cast lots who should choose, and that, in 
case there were but one taken, that then We would put fifty 
men of each nation on board her, till such time as we could 
take another, which they would not agree to, as inflicting upon 
the first choice. So that,, seeing we could not bring them to 
comply, we parted as well from them as from Captain Grognier, 
and fifty of our men who staid on board him; so that they 
had a hundred and forty-two men in their ship, and we a 
hundred and sixty-two in our frigate and long bark. 

On the 24th we weighed, and set sail for Queaquilla, which 
is the first maritime town on the south coast, as you go thither 
from Panama : we made all the sail we could to get thither 
before the English, who had formed the same design as we 
had done. We lay by till the 25th, to get out of the bay, and, 
m passing from the White Cape, we steered S. S. W., S. and 
by S. W., and directly south to the 28th in the evening, that 
we had on our starboard side a W. N. W. wind, bearing us to 
the south, which lasted till the 29th, when we were becalmed 
in the night. On the 1st of March towards noon, arose a 
pretty fresh gale from the north, which made us bear S. S. W. 
and S. S. E., till the 4th in the morning, when an easterly 
breeze took us. and made us bear south ; on the 5th arose a 
north-west wind ; and on the 8th at noon we passed the equi- 
noctial line, leaving the Isles of Galapa, which are below to 
the west, a dozen leagues to leeward. 

These are eight islands that stand north and south of the 
White Cape, and east and west from Q,ueaquilla ; they are full 
of sea tortoises, that land there every hour of the day, and you 
cannot find a place to tread on or walk along in the woods, for 
the great number of land tortoises, lizards, and agoutils, that 
retire thither. The sea thereabouts is also so fruitful in the pro- 
duction of fish, that they come to the very sands to die there ; 
but these advantages, on the other hand, are encountered with 
the want of water, whereof these islands are entirely destitute. 



408 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

The wind, towards evening, came to N. N. E., and made us 
bear E. and by S. E., to keep to the continent ; the weather, on 
the 10th in the morning, grew very dark, and, we having a 
southerly blast, bore E. and E. by S. E., till the 11th, when 
we were becalmed. On the 13th arose an east wind, and we 
bore to the S. S. E., upon a tack, and N. N. E., and then lay 
by for some time, because we did not know the currents. On 
the 14th, having a north-east wind, we bore E. S. E., and ac- 
cordingly, as it blew fresh, we steered. E. and by S. E.,and E. 
On the 15th, two hours before day-light, we had a storm, and 
then a south wind ; we steered east all that day, but we had 
such bad weather the following night, that we could not 
carry our sails ; next day about noon the weather 'grew better, 
and an easterly breeze presented ; we lay by till the 18th at 
noon, when we discovered a ship to the windward of us, to 
whom we gave chase till the evening ; she proved to be the 
English ship that had parted from us when we came out of 
the Bay of Caldaira, who, knowing who we were, put into the 
cape. We came to leeward of her, but she spread out her sails, 
and got to leeward of us. After we had given one another this 
salutation, we put out for two hours to see which sailed best; 
but knowing at last they were the better sailers, and fear- 
ing they might reach Queaquilla before us, we desired them to 
join with us in our design, to which when they agreed, we set 
sail together. We found ourselves much perplexed to know 
what latitude we might be in, since we had not seen the sun 
for ten days together. But it happily fell out, that it appeared 
on the 19th ; our pilots computed we might be about twenty- 
five leagues to windward of Q,ueaquilla, and sixty leagues from 
laud ; but the winds varied to that degree, that we could make 
no way, and many times went contrary. 

On the 20th we had a west wind, and steered E. and by 
S. E. till the 21st, when we were becalmed. On the 24th arose 
a south wind, and on the 26th an easterly breeze ; at last, the 
wind persisting to be contrary, we were reduced to great want 
of victuals, for we had already been upon our passage longer 
than our provision would allow us ; to which we may add, that 
fish had, till now, been so scarce, and hard to catch, that we 
had but little support from them. So that, having on the 2Sth 
taken an account of the remainder of our victualling, we were 
forced to retrench ourselves so far, as to eat but once in forty- 
eight hours. We also wanted water, and, had it not been for 
the help of rain, we had certainly died of thirst; but what 
made us amends for one part of our wants was, that we found 
ourselves, all of a sudden, in a kingdom of large fishes, such 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 409 

as emperors, tunnies, germons, galdenies, negroes, bonitoes, and 
several others, to whom we gave no quarter, no more than to 
the sea-wolves, who, for all their ill smell, could not escape us. 
Daring that time we bore to the north-east, the wind not 
allowing us to keep on our designed course, that, if the worst 
came to the worst, we might, by this course, reach the Isle of 
St. John, pursuant to the design we had formed, upon meeting 
with this contrary wind, of putting in there, in case the same 
continued all the way. On the 29th, after we had taken the 
latitude, our pilots computed us to be opposite to the Isle of 
Platta, thirty leagues to leeward of Q,ueaquilla. On the 30th, 
being Easter day, we were but one degree north latitude ; in the 
twilight the wind began to blow fresh, and bore us E. N. E. 
Next day the wind came S. S. W., we steering E., E. and by 
S. E., and E. S. E. On the 3d of April we were becalmed; 
and, as we had for the space of two days, by the computation 
of our pilots, sailed towards land, they were of opinion that 
the currents deceived them, of which we made ourselves satis- 
fied by the following manner : On the 4th, the weather being 
very calm, we furled our sails, and put out one of our peri- 
augnes, about whose forecastle we spun sixty fathoms of our 
smallest rope, made fast unto a grappling iron, and, from that 
coast she made from, the tide ran along her side with as much 
swiftness as the current of a river, and bore to the north-east. 
On the 5th we caulked our ships ; towards midnight a south- 
west wind presented itself, and we bore south-east. 

On the 6th in the morning, we discovered land both to wind- 
ward and leeward of us ; we veered to, lest we should be 
brought too near, and steered south. On the 8lh, we were 
about four or five leagues off, and our coasting pilots knew the 
place to be Cape Pastao, which is under the line, thirty leagues 
to leeward of,the Isle of Platta ; we had all hands aloft, and 
steered south. On the 9th, we bore to the S. S. E. till the 
evening, and to the S. W. till ten at night, when we steered to 
the S. S. E. ; and, on the 11th, we were got to the height of 
the Isle of Platta, eighteen leagues out at sea. 

On the 12th at noon, we saw the point of Sancta Helena, 
which is fifteen leagues to leeward of Queaquilla, and forms 
the beginning of the bay that bears the name of that town. 
On the 12th at night, we saw fire to windward of us ; we lay 
by till break of day, when we discovered a ship three leagues 
to windward of us, and, as we were becalmed, we sent three 
periaugues to know what she was ; they found her to be a 
prize, laden with wine and corn, which Captain David had 
taken as she came out of Nasca, and which was separated from 
35 



410 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

him; he had put eight Englishmen on board to conduct her, 
who were to have their rendezvous, in case of separation, at 
the Isle of Platta. These men told us, that, after they had 
left St. John's Island, they made several descents, and in sev- 
eral parts of that country, among others, at Sagua, Arica, and 
Pisca ; that, in the last of these places, a relation of the vice- 
roy of Lima came at the head of eight hundred men, to attack 
them with sword in hand, but that they were vigorously re- 
pulsed ; that they had also taken a great many ships, which,, 
when they had pillaged, they let go again ; so that, finding they 
had got to \he value of five thousand pieces of eight a man, 
they had resolved to return to the North Sea, and that, as they 
sailed away for the Straits of Magellan, they fell to gaming, 
whereat many lost* all they had got ; that they had anchored 
in the road that leads to the Isles of Don Fernandez, that stand 
upon the brink of the strait, to which place came Captain Will- 
net, an Englishman, who had left them long before, and was 
come thither upon the same design with themselves, of repass- 
ing into the North Seas by the same straits ; but that Cap- 
tain David had altered his resolution, for that those of his crew 
who had lost their money, were not willing to leave those seas, 
nor the ship, till they had taken another. That, as for those 
who had won, they went on board Captain Willnet, out of 
which ship went also, at the same time, such of his crew as 
were without money, in order to go and get some with Captain 
David, and that so they were come back into the South Sea, 
to the number of sixty English and twenty French, as Willnet 
was gone through the strait for the North Sea ; that Captain 
Peter Henry was gone for the East Indies, presently after 
Captain Suams; and lastly, they told us (though we had been 
informed thereof before) that the Spanish fleet was a careening 
at Puerto Callao, which, as I have already said, is the place of 
embarking that belongs to Lima. 

As these eight Englishmen did not think that Captain 
David's frigate would rejoin them so quickly at the place of 
rendezvous, they proposed going with us to Queaquilla ; which 
we so much the more willingly agreed to, in that they gave us 
a share of their victuals and drink, and a little revived amongst 
us that usual merriment, that had now for some time been 
exiled from us, by the abstinences we were forced to undergo, 
wherewith we were extremely weakened ; then we sailed all 
night in their company, steering S. E. and by E. 

On the 14th, we furled all our sails for fear of being discov- 
ered from land, near unto which we were. About two, arose a 
fog, by favor whereof we made use of our main sail of all, as 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 411 

well to come ready rigged into the bay, which is thirty leagues 
in length, as to get to windward of the River Q,ueaquilla, and 
to spare ourselves also the labor of rowing so much, for, being 
so extraordinarily weak, we had not strength to do it. 

We steered all night S. E.,and, on the 15th, discovered the 
White Cape, which is the windward cape of this bay ; about 
ten in the morning, we embarked to the number of two hun- 
dred and sixty men on board our canoes, after having given our 
ships orders to lay by in the bay, till they heard news from us. 
We steered all day long for the Island of Sancta Clara, wittl i 
which "we came up at sunsetting. This little island is in reality 
nothing else but a rock, standing east and west, six leagues dis- 
tant from the continent; we were obliged to cast anchor with 
all the tides contrary to us, it being impossible to put into this 
bay against the currents, where we found six fathoms of water; 
and, on the 16th, we found ourselves between Sancta Clara 
and La Puna, about five leagues from the shore. 

La Puna is a very pretty island, and may be discovered at a 
great distance at sea, because of the form of it, resembling a 
cardinal's cap ; it is twenty leagues in circumference, and stands 
east and west, two leagues from the continent, and over against 
the mouth of the River Q,ueaquilla. There is a large borough 
built upon it, where, in former times, were kept the king of 
Spain's magazines. Great ships, that is, such as are Wo or three 
decked ones, that cannot come into the river, anchor between 
it and the island. We hid ourselves in this island all day, and 
that with the good luck of not being discovered by the senti- 
nels, who were there to the number of forty of them, though 
we knew nothing of it ; we departed in the evening, and got 
more southerly, that we might not be discovered from the 
continent. 

On the 17th, we hid ourselves again in a covert place upon 
the same island ; where, after we had got an exact account 
from our prisoners of the state, situation, and disposition of the 
town of Q,ueaquilla, which we were about to go and take, we 
disposed of our forces in the following order: There were fifty 
men making the forlorn hope, led by Captain Picard, who com- 
manded our frigate, to attack the great fort ; fourscore gren- 
adiers, commanded by the captain of our bark, were to be in the 
nature of reserves, and to serve any where, as there should be 
occasion for them : Captain Grognier with the main body was 
to make himself master of the town and port ; and Captain 
George Hewit, who was commander of the English ship, with 
fifty of his men, was to attack the little fort, and a thousand 
pieces of eight was promised to any one of the ensigns/whereof 



412 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

I was one, that should pitch the first colors upon the great fort 
Things being thus regulated, we left our covert in the evening, 
believing we might be able to enter into the River of Q,uea- 
quilla that night, before day-light appeared ; but, for all that, 
all we could do was to gain one of the points of the island, 
which is over against the river, for we could have the advan- 
tage of the tide's coming in but for three hours ; which was the 
reason that on the ISth, as we put off again, that we might the 
more readily get under the covert of the island, day overtook 
us, and so discovered us to a sentinel, who set a cottage on fire 
as a signal to the other sentinels, that were posted at conven- 
ient distances on both sides of the river, that he saw us, that 
so these same might advertise the town of it. As soon as we 
got ashore, we marched across a wood to get to the said fire, 
where we found some of those that had kindled it ; whereof 
two were killed, as they fled to save themselves, and a third 
was taken, but we could get no intelligence from him, for he 
was but a little boy. 

This day we discovered a ship entering into the river ; we 
let her pass, being unwilling to come out from under our covert 
to fall upon her, for fear of being discovered by those on the 
main land, who, we supposed: knew nothing of us, because the 
inhabitants of Q,ueaquijla had not answered the fire signal 
which the sentinel of La Puna had given them. Upon the 
approach of night, we made ready, and entered into the River 
of Queaquilla by one of the two mouths we found there, and 
by which goes in and out with the tide so rapid a current, that 
it is enough to carry a canoe two leagues in an hour, so that we 
made four in the space of two hours. 

There are two very fine islands in the two largest parts of 
this river, (which may be about a half a league over,) under 
the covert whereof we hid ourselves on the 19th, all day long. 
We made ready in the evening, and had the pleasure to be 
carried up by the current, without the use of our oars, for fear 
lest the sentinels, who are always placed on this river's sides, 
should hear the noise of our rowing. The design of our guide 
was to pass by and land beyond the town, because he knew it 
was weaker, and worse guarded on that side than on the other ; 
but his project failed him, for the tide, now going out, was as 
injurious to us, as it before had been favorable, and forced us to 
go ashore, two hours before day, within cannon-shot on this" 
side of the town, from whence we discovered a great many 
lights, which they usually keep in their houses all night long. 

This place, where we landed, is a country full of water and 
shrubs, across which we were forced to cut our way with our 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 413 

sabres; but we did not know we were unhappily landed over 
against a sentinel, nor that, half an hour after that, one of our 
men, who was left behind to look after our canoes, struck fire 
to light his pipe with, which he rashly did, contrary to the 
express prohibition we had given him ; which being perceived 
by that- sentinel, he made no doubt but there must be enemies 
near, because the Spaniards, upon pain of death, forbid their 
people to strike fire in the night ; insomuch that he presently 
discharged a small paterero, to give the fort notice of it, who 
readily answered the same with a whole discharge of their 
cannon. Being overtaken at that instant of time with a storm 
of rain, we were obliged to put in for shelter into a great house 
we found before us, to light the grenadiers' matches, and wait 
till day appeared ; during which space the enemy fired contin- 
ually from the town, to frighten and let us understand they 
were ready to receive us. 

On the 20th at break of day, we marched out in order tow- 
ards the town, with our drums beating and colors flying ; and 
upon our approach, found ourselves stopped by seven hundred 
men, who attacked us from under the covert of a wall four feet 
and a half high, and d£ a ditch, wherewith the same was encom- 
passed towards the river's side, which made us presently suppose 
it to be their fort, having had no good intelligence of the situa- 
tion of the place. They did all they could j;o repulse us, and 
presently killed some of our men. ' Being encouraged with this 
little advantage, they had the boldness to sally out upon us 
with sword in hand ; but, seeing we gave them a most vigor- 
ous reception, they fled without any more ado, and contented 
themselves with breaking down the bridges, to hinder us from 
advancing ; but this could not prevent our crossing the ditch, 
and getting to the foot of the wall, whereof we rendered our- 
selves masters, in spite of all the resistance made by them, who 
were not proof against our grenadoes, that drove them into the 
very houses, which are all of them built on purpose for places 
of defence, in case they be attacked, and from whence in a 
short time we also drove them. They fled to the place of 
arms, and entrenched themselves in a strong caze, which we Gall 
a redoubt, and which, when they had defended for an hour's 
time, they were all forced to abandon, insomuch that we pur- 
sued them from fort to fort, till we came to a third, which is 
the greatest and most considerable of them all. Here they 
defended themselves a long time; for they fired continually 
upon us, by favor of the smoke of their cannon, which hin- 
dered us from seeing them. When we were got to the foot of 
the palisadoes, they sallied out again with sword in hand, and, 
35 * 



414 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

having wounded some of our men, they took one of them 
prisoner ; but we quickly made them leave him, and to run 
back into their fort, after they had lost a great many men. At 
last, being weary with about eleven hours' fight, and our pow- 
der being now almost spent, we redoubled our efforts in such a 
manner, that we broke in upon them, and made ourselves mas- 
ters of this last fort, but not without loss on our side, since we 
had nine men killed, and a dozen wounded. We sent out sev- 
eral parties at the same time to pursue those that fled, who 
were still in sight of us, while the other Roman Catholics went 
to sing Te Deam in the great church, after we had first put a 
garrison into the fort. 

The town of dueaquilla is almost built round about a little 
mountain, whereon stand those three forts, two whereof are 
commanded by the third, which is the largest, and all of them 
command the town. The greatest, which is that against which 
we had most to do, is nowhere strong, but to the river- 
ward, and the two lesser ones are upon the descent of a hill, 
which also looks towards the river, and are each of them sur- 
rounded with a thin but very high wall on the outside ; we 
found none but patereroes to defend it. There is a communi- 
cation between these last two, and the other by a covert-way, 
on each side whereof are two rows of palisadoes filled with 
earth, and defended also with patereroes. In the great fort, 
which is also beset with palisadoes, we found seven pieces of 
cannon, carrying from twelve to eighteen pound ball ; but they 
could not, because of the elevation of the place, bring their 
guns to bear low enough to incommode those that were in the 
town, unless, by thundering against the houses, they should be 
buried in the ruins of them. The magazines of powder stand 
in the middle of the fort, and are slightly enough built. The 
town, as I have observed, is to the river-ward, encompassed 
with a wall, four feet and a half high, and three feet thick. 
The streets are very straight. The parish churches, as well as 
the convents, are very curiously built ; the houses are almost 
all built with boards, and founded upon piles, for that in the 
rainy time of the year, which continues from the beginning 
of January to the end of April, they are so incommoded, as to 
be forced to make bridges, and raise banks of earth in all the 
streets, to keep off the water and mud. Their chief com- 
modity is cocoa, of which they make chocolate. We took seven 
hundred prisoners of both sexes in this place, and among the 
rest was the governor and his family. He was wounded*as 
were several officers and men of quality, who fought more 
bravely than five thousand other men that defended the place. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 415 

We found in the place several sorts of merchandise, a great 
many pearls and precious stones, a prodigious quantity of silver 
plate, and seventy thousand pieces of eight at least ; though 
there were three millions among them when we came thither. 
But, as we were all wholly taken up to make ourselves masters of 
the forts, they laid hold of that opportunity to make their escape 
along the river, with the greatest part of their most valuable 
movables. When our canoes were come to anchor under the 
town, we were not backward to send four of them away, in pur- 
suit of the shallops that carried the said riches of the town away; 
but then it was too late. They only took twenty-two thousand 
pieces of eight, and a vermilion eagle gilt, that had served for 
a tabernacle to some church, weighing sixty-eight pounds, and 
was exceeding rare, as well for the workmanship as two great 
rocks of emeralds, wherewith the eyes of it were made. 
There were fourteen barks in the port, with the galleys against 
whom we fought at Pueblo Nnevo, and two of the king of 
Spain's ships upon the stocks, almost finished. We agreed with 
the governor in the evening about the price of the ransom of his 
family, the town, fort, cannon, and the ships, they being to give 
us a million of pieces of eight in gold, and four hundred sacks 
of corn ; and, in order to forward the payment of the said ran- 
som, which was to be brought from the town of Quito, eighty 
leagues off, he desired us to release their vicar general, who 
was a man of great authority and credit amongst them. 

We found this governor's house so richly furnished and filled 
with such precious movables, that nothing in Europe could 
be more magnificent. The women of this town are very 
pretty ; but most of the fathers or monks live here at great 
ease, and in such familiarity with the fair sex, that is far from 
being a good pattern and example unto others. The fathers 
hated us to that degree, that they persuaded the women, who 
had never seen any freebooters, we were altogether unlike them, 
that we were not even of human form, and that we would both 
eat them and their children ; which made them conceive so much 
horror and aversion for us, that they could not be dispossessed 
thereof, till they came to know us better. But then, I can 
boldly say, they entertained quite different sentiments of our 
persons, and have given us frequent instances of so violent a 
passion as proceeded sometimes even to a degree of folly. 

It is not from a chance story that I came to know the im- 
pressions wrought in these women, that we were men that 
would eat them ; for, the next day after the taking of the town, 
a young gentlewoman that waited upon the governess of the 
place, happening to fall into my hands, as I was carrying hex 



416 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

away to the place where the rest, of the prisoners were kept, 
and to that end made her walk before me, she turned back, 
and with tears in her eyes, told me, in her own language, Senior 
pur V Amor de Dios no mi como ; that is, Pray, sir, for the* love 
of God, do not eat me. Whereupon I asked who had told her 
that we were wont to eat people ; she answered, the fathers, 
who had also assured them, that we had not human shape, but 
that we "resembled monkeys. 

On the 21st, some of our men, who had 'made a fire in the 
day-time, in one of the houses of the town, came to the court 
of guard in the evening, without extinguishing of it, so that 
at night it set the town on fire ; but the fear we were in, lest 
the same should reach our court of guard, wherein was lodged 
all the powder in the place, and part of the merchandise and 
riches of the town, we were obliged to get all carried on board 
the barks that were in the port, and to bring all our prisoners 
into the fort ; and, when that was done, we endeavored to put 
a stop to the fire, which yet burnt down one third of the town, 
notwithstanding all the pains we took to put it out. 

We. returned on the 22d in the morning to our court of guard, 
and fearing lest the Spaniards might refuse to pay the ransom 
agreed on for the town, because'of this accident, we having 
promised by our treaty with, them not to burn it, we took upon 
us to believe they were the cause of it, and sent them a letter, 
wherein we gave them to understand we were much surprised 
at their manner of procedure ; that they should, after our 
agreement with them, come with a mischievous intention to 
burn the merchandise and corn that were of so much use to us, 
and that we repented we had not left all the town to be burnt ; 
that, if they did not pay us what we had suffered by the fire, 
we should send them fifty of the prisoners' heads. They there- 
upon excused the matter to us, saying they must be some ras- 
cally spiteful people that had done this, and they would take 
care to satisfy us. 

On the 23d, the governor furnished us with a coasting pilot, 
whom we sent in one of our canoes to see for our ships, (to 
whom we had given orders they should lie by in the bay,) to 
bring them to anchor at the Isle of Puna, whither we were to goat 
our departure from dueaquilla, to wait for the promised ransoms. 
On the 24th, finding one of our men was sick with the stench 
which the dead carcasses, to the number of above nine hundred, 
lying up and down the town, occasioned, we went our ways, 
after we had first dismounted and nailed up the cannon in the 
fort, and carried- five hundred prisoners, being the best of the in- 
habitants, along with us, into our barks; wherein we arrived 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 417 

with them on the 25th at Puna, where we found our ships ready 
to cast anchor. 

Ou the 2d of May, Captain Grognier died of the wound he 
had received that day we took the town, when the seven^hun- 
dred Spaniards opposed our entering the fort, and the same day 
died four of our men also. On the 4th we sent our galley to 
the Isle of Platta, to see if Captain David's frigate was come 
to rendezvous there. 

The time allowed for the payment of the ransom of Q,uea~ 
quilla being expired on the 9th, we granted them four days 
longer ; but then we began to be weary. of this delay, when a 
Spanish bark, that was wont to carry us provision, brought an 
officer in her, who desired us not to be impatient, for the ran- 
som would be quickly paid. Now this dilatoriness made us begin 
to suspect very much that there was some treachery in the case, 
^nd that they entertained us with hopes for no other end than 
to amuse us, till such time as the enemy were reenforced- 
And our guess was right enough, as will appear hereafter, inso- 
much that we were constrained to use such severity to- 
wards our prisoners, as we knew would strike a terror into out 
enemies. We made them throw dice for their lives, and, the 
lot falling upon the heads of four, we cut them off presently, 
and sent them to Q,ueaquilla in the same vessel that had brought 
the said officer unto us, by whom we let the tenient understand 
that, if the ransom did not come within four days, we would 
send them the heads of all the rest of the people that were in 
our power. 

Our galley on the 14th returned from the Isle of Platta, and 
related that she had been chased about the Point of Sancta 
Helena by two ships, but she could not discover what they 
were ; and this made us that evening send out one of our canoes 
that sailed well, to see what those ships might be. On the 16th, 
she found they came to join us, they being Captain David's 
frigate and a prize he had taken after the other had been sep- 
arated from them, which we met before we went to Q,ueaquilla : 
they came with full resolution to make a descent at Paita, in 
order to get some refreshments for their men, who had been 
wounded in a fight they had had with a Spanish ship called 
Catalina, which they met fifty leagues to leeward of Lima, 
and was one of those that we had for so long a time waited for 
before that town. # 

This ship Catalina was separated from two more with whom 
she was returning to the port of Callao, when, unfortunately, 
for her, she met with Captain David's frigate, that sailed much 
better than she, and could have taken her, without making, as 



418 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

he did, two days' fight of it, had it not been that the greatest 
part of his crew, being continually drunk, failed twenty times 
to come up close to board her, and suffered themselves to fall 
to leeward, because of their ill rigging, as often as they found 
themselves to windward of her; which being observed by the 
Spaniards, they thought, by putting up a bloody flag, they 
would-be quipkly brought to strike; but therein they were mis- 
taken, and the quite contrary fell out. For David's people 
growing sober on the third day, and putting their tackle and 
rigging into better order than before, the Spaniards were so ter- 
rified thereat, that they ran ashore, where their ship did not 
keep whole two hours. David's men, in a canoe, went to save 
two Spaniards, who were about swimming to land, and now, 
having escaped the danger of drowning, told them that their 
captain, having had his thigh shot off with a cannon-ball, had 
desired his lieutenant, before his death, to lose no time, but to 
go without tarrying, to acquaint the viceroy of Lima of the 
dangerous estate the frigate was reduced to, that he might send 
without delay to her assistance. 

Our canoe, which on the 22d came to rejoin us, and gave 
the aforesaid information, brought also along with her Captain 
David's prize, which he had sent to desire us to get a main- 
mast to be brought him from Q,ueaquilla, as somewhat of our 
ransom, his having been very much damnified in the last en- 
gagement ; and that, till it came, he would cruise without the 
bay to prevent our being surprised by the Spaniards. 

I forgot to take notice that this ship's crew had, at Paita, sur- 
prised a courier that was going from Queaquilla to Lima the 
third time, to carry the following letter unto the viceroy ; 
which clearly made out unto us the suspicions we had enter- 
tained before, that the Spaniards deferred to pay us the prom- 
ised ransom, that they might have time to prepare themselves 
to come and pay us in a sort of coin we had no occasion for, 
and which we did not require at their hands. 

A Letter of the Tenient of Queaquilla to the Viceroy of Lima. 

" Sir: — I am to inform your excellency, the second time, 
that the English and French are still at Puna ; it is several days 
since the term they had allowed us for the redemption of our 
prisoners is expired ; I have done it on .purpose that your excel- 
lency might gain time. They have sent me four of our peo- 
ple's heads. I will amuse them with some thousands of pieces 
of eight from .time to time, (though they have no reason to be 
weary,) while your excellency may please to come ; and, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 419 

though they should yet send me fifty heads more, I shall 
esteem that loss to be much less prejudicial to us, than to 
suffer such evil-disposed people to live. Now, sir, we have a 
brave opportunity to get rid of them, provided your excellency 
lose no time to Ho it." 

We could not have received a more certain testimony*of the 
thoughts and designs of our enemies than those discovered by 
this letter unto us ; so we took our measures accordingly. 



CHAPTER LV. 

The remaining Actions of the Freebooters in the South Sea, during 1687. 

The best winter quarters which we had met with in these 
seas, and that of longest duration, was that of the time of our 
sojourning upon this Island of La Puna, where, for the space 
of thirty odd days that we staid here, we lived mighty well ; 
for, besides the victuals which the Spaniards brought us daily 
from Q.ueaquilla, we had brought thither ourselves a great 
many refreshments. Neither did we want charms for our ears in 
this place, for we had all the music of the town among our 
prisoners, which consisted of lutes, theorvoes, harps, guitars, and 
other instruments, I never saw any where else, wherewith they 
made a very fine concert. 

Some of our men grew very familiar with our women pris- 
oners, who, without offering them any violence, were not spar- 
ing of their.favors, and made appear, as I have already remarked, 
that, after they came once to know us, they did not retain all 
the aversion for us that had been inculcated into them, when 
we were strangers unto them. All our people were so charmed 
with this way of living, that they forgot their past miseries, 
and thought of no more danger from the Spaniards than if 
they had been in the middle of Paris. 

Amongst the rest, myself had one pretty adventure. Among 
the other prisoners we had a young gentlewoman lately become 
a widow of the treasurer of the town, who was slain when it 
was taken. Now this woman appeared so far comforted for her 
loss, out of a hard-heartedness they have in this country one for 
another, that she proposed to hide me and herself in some corner 
of the island till our people were gone, and then she would bring 
me to dueaquilla to marry her ; that she would procure me her 



420 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




THE BUCCANEERS OF. AMERICA. 421 

husband's office, and vest me in his estate, which was very 
great. When I had returned her thanks for such obliging 
offers, I gave her to understand that I was afraid her inter- 
est had not the mastery over the Spaniards' resentments ; and 
that the wounds they had received from us were yet too fresh 
and green for them easily to forget them. She went about to 
cure me of my suspicion, by procuring secretly from the gov- 
ernor and chief officers under their hands, how kindly I should 
be used by them. I confess I was not a little perplexed here- 
with; and such pressing testimonies of good will and friend- 
ship towards me, brought me, after a little consultation with 
myself, into such a quandary, that I did not know which side 
to close with : nay, I found myself at length much inclined to 
close with the offers made me. And I had two powerful rea- 
sons to induce me thereunto, one of which was the miserable and 
languishing life we led in those places, where we were in per- 
petual hazard to lose it, which I should be freed from by an 
advantageous offer of a pretty woman and a considerable settle- 
ment ; the other proceeded from the despair I was in of ever be- 
ing able to return into my own country, for want of ships fit for 
that purpose. But when I began to reflect upon these things 
with a little more leisure and consideration, and that I revolved 
with myself, how little trust was to be given to the promises 
and faith of so perfidious as well as vindictive a nation as the 
Spaniards, and more especially towards men in our circum- 
stances, by whom they had been so ill used ; this second reflec- 
tion carried it against the first, and even all the advantages 
offered me by this lady. But, however the matter was, I was 
resolved, in spite of the grief and tears of this pretty woman, 
to prefer the continuance of my troubles (with a ray of hope I 
had of seeing France again) before the perpetual suspicion I 
should have, had of some treachery designed against me. Thus 
I rejected her proposals ; but so, as to assure her I should retain, 
even as long as I lived, a lively resentment of her affections 
and good inclinations towards me. 

On the 23d, we sent one of our canoes to Q,ueaquilla, to 
carry one of the fathers thither, they being a people as much 
obeyed and respected by that nation, as the viceroys themselves. 
The governor gave this man a full power to act as he pleased, 
even in opposition to the obstructions which the tenient made 
against the payment of the ransom afore-mentioned. After his 
departure came a bark which brought us four and twenty sacks 
of meal, and to the value of twenty thousand pieces of eight 
in gold. They desired us, moreover, to grant them three days 
time for the payment of the rest ; which we allowed them, but 
36 



422 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

withal threatened, upon their failure therein, we should seize 
upon their fort and burn their town and ships. 

Our canoe returned on the 25th, who gave us an account 
they would pay no more than two aud twenty thousand pieces 
of eight for the rest of the ransom, and that the teuieut would 
pursue his prince's orders, who forbade the payment of any; 
that he had five thousand men at hand, with which he waited 
to see if we would put our threats in execution. Upon this 
fierce and bold answer, we had a consultation together whether 
we should cut off the heads of all the prisoners. The plu- 
rality of voices, together with mine, was, that it were better 
we should go and look after the two and twenty thousand 
pieces of eight, than shed any more blood ; seeing also, that, 
our design being to leave these seas, we had no further occasion 
for these executions to make us be feared ; and that, after all, we 
were but too well assured, by the tenieut's letter, that the Span- 
iards were setting all things in order, to come and act then- 
utmost efforts against us, which, perhaps, would administer 
matter of repentance unto us, if we still persisted in our resolu- 
tion. That therefore we ought to accept the offer, and to give 
up unto them no other than the meanest of the prisoners, with- 
out diverting ourselves of those of quality, who would be a 
security unto us for the rest. That, while we waited for them, 
it was our best way to take them along with us, and put off 
from the shore, steering towards the point of St. Helena, where 
we should be out of danger of the surprises of our enemies, 
whose motions we could every way discover at a distance. 
Things being thus concluded on, we sent our canoe to Q,uea- 
quiila, who returned again on the 2oth, and told us, that next 
day the Spaniards would, without fail, bring us the two aud 
twenty thousand pieces of eight to the Isle of Puna, where we. 
then were. 

We put, the same day, fifty of our best prisoners on board 
our ships ; and, at the same time, weighed anchor, and quitted 
our good winter quarters, where we left the rest of our prison- 
ers, with two canoes to guard them, and to wait for the money 
promised us; giving our men, orders to tell those who brought 
it, that they should send us the remainder of what was agreed 
on, to the point of St.Helena; and, upon default thereof, that 
they should see the people no more. Our canoes, on the 26th 
in the evening, came to join us, as we lay by to get out of this 
bay, and brought us the two and twenty thousand pieces of 
eight. 

Next night the English frigate's prize, who thought we still 
lay at anchor at La Puna (from whence she met us about eight 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 423 

leagues) came to give us notice, that two Spanish armadillas 
waited our coining out of the bay, and that David's frigate lay 
by, as they did, to stay for us. On the 27th by break of day, 
we discovered them between the Isle of St. Clara and the point 
of St. Helena, to the windward of us. Captain David's frig- 
ate, upon sight of us, made up presently to* us, and, having 
got all together, we consulted what we were best to do. We 
put fourscore of our men on board of him, because he had not 
number enough of his own to manage his guns ; and, as we 
had not men enough to manage our prizes, we reserved only 
but two ships and a long bark, and sent the rest with our peri- 
augues upon the flats, where the Spanish ships could not come, 
as drawing more water than they did. We lay by till noon, 
to get the weather-gage, which yet we could not do, because 
at this time of the year the winds blow from the sea, an.d are 
very fixed, and that besides, as we came out of the bottom of 
the bay, we could not well hope to gain it, the Spaniards being 
at the mouth thereof. 

About noon our enemies came upon us, and so we fought 
till the evening with our cannon, which the Spaniards call 
gallant fighting, without much hurting of one another. We 
cast anchor upon the approach of night, as they did also about 
a league to the windward of us. We fired a gun for our prizes 
to come up, which they did, and cast anchor near us, for their 
greater security. 

We sent them back about an hour before day-light to their 
former station, and, as soon as ever light appeared, we made 
ready, and the Spaniards did the same ; but no sooner were we 
got under sail, but we were becalmed. Unhappily it fell out 
that we were without our periaugues to row us to the wind- 
ward, because we had sent them back with our prizes, to avoid 
the trouble they might have caused us, and therefore all we 
could do, now, was to make use of our little canoes, which we 
had still with us ; the Spaniards also rowed to the windward 
to dispute the matter with us ; however, with much ado, we 
got a cannon-shot to the windward of them ; but, as they knew 
better how to bear close up to the wind in these seas than we, 
in half an hour's time they recovered the weather-gage of us. 
We lay by till two in the afternoon, and seeing we could do 
no good with them, we put in to the cape, to wait for two 01 
our ships that were behind. In the mean time these armadil- 
las bore up to us, and, when they had got within a good can- 
non-shot, we fought till it was dark night ; they very much 
shattered us, yet wounded but one man; we anchored in the 
evening, as we had done the day before, and they did the same 
also to the windward of us. . * 



424 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

We remained at anchor on the 29th, as well as they, till three 
in the afternoon, when they weighed to go and attack the big- 
gest of our prizes, because she had anchored only on the side 
of the shallows, and we made ready to defend her. We came 
to such a close fight with them, that all our small arms, as well 
as great guns, cante into play on both sides ; yet we lost not one 
man, though they on their side had a great many killed, which 
we knew by the blood that ran out of their scupper-holes ; and 
at our parting they cried, "A la mamma la partida" that is, 
To-morrow to it again. 

On the 30th, both they and we prepared to put out of the 
bay, and the Spaniards, who were still to windward, did all 
they could to hinder us to get the weather-gage. We came 
to an anchor towards noon, to disarm one of our prizes that 
sailed very badly, and to fit up another in the room of her, 
which Captain David gave us, as well as the twenty French- 
men that made part of his crew, and were minded to leave 
him. We wrought all night to unrig her, and when we had so 
done, we sent her into the bottom. We put ourselves under 
sail on the 31st, and about two in the afternoon came to an an- 
chor, because of the tide's being against us. Presently after, 
the two armadillas came up with "us, which made us weigh, 
and then to put in to the cape, to wait for one of our prizes 
that was far from us, which not being able to join us as soon 
as the enemy, her crew left her, and went into her periaugue, 
wherein they came to throw themselves on board one of our 
men-of-war. They had left four Spaniards in that same prize, 
who, by the favor of a good wind, put back into the River of 
dueaquilla, where they made their escape, and what was worst 
of all, took along with them almost all our provisions that were 
in her. 

When we were got within haff cannon-shot of our enemies' 
ships, we fired upon one another, and that without intermission, 
till an hour within night. We received several cannon-shot in 
our sides, during this engagement, had almost all our tackle 
spoiled, and our sails sifted, because the Spaniards did all that 
ever they could to bring our masts by the board ; and indeed, 
the foremast of the frigate received five cannon-shot, and the 
mainmast three ; but they came only slanting, and as good luck 
would have it, we had not one man killed nor wounded. 

We saw the enemy on the 1st of June, by break of day, a 
league's distance from us ; we were not slow to do all we could 
to put out. About ten they lengthened their boltspring sails, 
and returned upon us ; but as we saw them bear up towards our 
frigate, we thought they intended to board her, and this made 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 425 

us presently put into her the crew of our long bark, by way of 
reinforcement. As soon as ever the Spaniards were come up, 
they put out their Burgundian colors, having till then put out 
none. When we were come pretty near, they gave us a volley 
of musket-shot, together with a discharge of their cannon, 
laden with cartouches ; but we got clear of them, so that they 
could not come to grapple with us. 

After we had left them to make alL the fire they could, we 
gave them a discharge of all our cannon, and a full volley with 
our small arms in our turn, and then we were ready to board, 
them ; but they, finding themselves much damaged, very readily 
got aloof to hinder us. 

They took up an hour's time to refit, then bore up to us 
again, renewing the fight, which lasted till night ; but they 
had been so well banged, that they had no mind to feel us this 
time so near ; and that day we had three men wounded. 

On the 2d, by break of day, they were still to the windward 
of us, at about two leagues distance, and bore up to us j we 
having a fresh gale, put into, the cape, and when they were 
come within a good cannon-shot of us, they plied us very 
tightly with their great guns, and then approached within a 
musket-shot of us, as believing we were now out of condition 
to make any long resistance : but as we had a better advantage 
of using our fusils, we made so great a fire upon them, that 
they were forced to close up their port-holes, and bear up to the 
wind. We received sixty cannon-shot this day in our sides, 
whereof two thirds were between wind and water ; besides 
which, all our rigging was torn, and we had two men wounded, 
whereof myself was one. 

About two hours within night, they made a show of coming 
to board us, but, finding we were as well prepared to receive 
them by night as by day, they bore upon the wind. We spent 
some part of this night at anchor, to stop up our cannons' 
mouths, which otherwise might have sent us into the deep. 

We were astonished next morning at break of day, that we 
could not set sight on the two armadillas, with whom we had 
made ourselves ready to renew the fight ; and in all appearance, 
they grew weary of it before us, though they had so great an 
advantage as that of the wind, which yet, as we heard since, 
could not secure them from losing a great many men, and hav- 
ing their ships at least as much shattered as ours. So that 
supposing well with ourselves, that they had steered their course 
to Port Callao, we steered ours for the Isle of Platta, where we 
anchored in the evening, and continued there two days to 
caulk our ships. 

36 * 



426 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

We had, during these several engagements, brought up upon 
our decks the governor of Q,ueaquilla, and the other chief offi- 
cers that were our prisoners, that they might be witnesses of 
the vigor with which our men fought, and the cowardice of 
their own people, who durst not enter our ships, though they 
came board and board with us twice. 

We weighed on the 6th, and sailed along the coast, that we 
might find a convenient .place to take in water. This coast is 
very level, safe, and very good to land upon, which is the rea- 
son that the same is throughout, as far as Barbacoa, inhabited 
by the Spaniards. We anchored between Cape Pastoa and that 
of St. Francisco. On the 10th, we put our prisoners ashore, 
and gave them their liberty, being not able to go to the point 
of St. Helena, to see whether their ransom was come, which I 
suppose would have been to little purpose, for those two arma- 
dillas had been sent to pay us with cannon-ball. 

On the 11th, we went about dividing the gold, precious 
stones and pearls we had found in Q-tieaquilla ; but as these 
things could not be divided, nor easily valued, the gold not 
being coined, and the stones of different value, we put up all 
by way of auction, that those who had silver might bid for 
them, and so every man have his part according as he bade ; 
and as there were several among us who, having got consider- 
able sums of money at play, were sure, and if it pleased God, 
they should once get safe out of these seas, their way must be 
no other than over land, where the weight of their silver must 
hinder or retard their going ; they bid for those jewels that 
kept but little room, and weighed not much, so excessive a 
price, that the gold alone that was coined was worth eighty 
and a hundred pieces of eight an ounce, and each pistole fifteen 
of the said pieces. But though these things were sold so dear, 
we made no more a division of the booty of that town than 
what came to four hundred pieces of eight a man ; the whole 
might amount to about five hundred thousand pieces of eight, or 
fifteen hundred thousand livres ; which money, as we were out 
of hopes to carry along with us, served us to play for on board 
our ships for our diversion : so that in the descents we made, 
we sought now for nothing but gold and precious stones, which 
we did not find so plentifully as silver ; of which, I must be 
plain, we made so little account, that we thought it not worth 
our while to take along with us a great quantity of plate, and 
other things, whereof the town of Q,ueaquilla was full. We 
also neglected to send a canoe after the hundred caons of coined 
silver, each consisting of eleven thousand pieces of eight, 
which the Spaniards had sent away to the other side of the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 427 

river, when we were engaged with them, and which were yet 
in sight of us when the fight was over. There is such a vast 
quantity of that rich metal in this country, that most of those 
things we make in France out of steel, copper and iron, are 
made by them in silver. This indifference in us gave some 
of their people many times occasion to intermix with us, to 
pillage from their own fellow-citizens what we neglected, and 
of which they were not so squeamish as we, or rather so put 
to it for the carriage of them, they being in their own country, 
and we far from ours. 

On the 12th, Captain David's frigate left us, he designing to 
go and careen at the Isles of Galapas, and then to sail away for 
the Strait of Magellan, in order to return to the North Sea ; but 
as for us, our vessels were so small, and withal so bad, that it 
was impossible we should get up higher than the coa§t of Peru ; 
neither could they also contain such a quantity of water as we 
had occasion for, which is very hard to come by on that coast, 
where you must go two or three leagues up the country before 
you can meet with any. These difficulties made us resolve to 
return to the western coast, that so we might endeavor to find 
out a way also to return to the North Sea, but that must be 
other than over land. 

Before I leave this coast, I cannot but take notice that Peru 
is one of the richest countries in the world, not only in respect 
to the great quantity of gold and silver which the Spaniards 
dig out of the mines they possess there, but also upon account 
of the great fertility of the earth, that produceth to the tillers 
of it three crops every year, as well of corn as wine ; and that 
besides those fruits that are peculiar to all America, you have 
also many of those here which grow in France, insomuch that 
this great diversity of species is the occasion that you have 
continual supplies of fresh fruits in all the seasons of the year. 

The inhabitants of this country reckon but two seasons, 
which divide the whole year into a summer of nine months, 
and a winter of three ; during which it freezes oftentimes very 
hard on the mountains, though the same is hardly discernible in 
the plains. Amongst their other cattle, they breed sheep, that 
weigh two hundred and fifty, .or three hundred pounds weight. 
^These animals are of great use to them, having the very same 
instinct as camels. They make them carry jars of water, oil, 
or wine, which are a sort of earthen ware made like sugar-pans, 
two of which hold about five and thirty quarts, and when emp- 
ty, weigh as much as the liquor that fills them. When they 
are minded to fill them, these sheep will kneel down, and as 
soon as they are full, get up very gently; when they are come 



428 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

to the place whither they are to carry them, they lay them down 
in the same manner, and continue till they are discharged of 
their burden. 

We weighed on the 13th, and on the 15th anchored twenty 
leagues to the windward of Point Mangla ; we put ashore in a 
canoe, where we surprised a watch of fifteen Spanish soldiers, 
who were set upon the side of a curious river. The entertain- 
ment we gave them forced them to own unto us, that they 
were to guard the river, which they called Emeralda, because 
of the many rocks, or great pieces of emeralds, which their 
countrymen take up there ; and that we might, in the space of 
eight hours, gc very easily from the mouth of it in our canoes, 
to surprise the town of Quito, but not so by land, because 
then we must fetch a compass of fourscore leagues, through a 
country full of inhabitants, who would not fail to oppose us ; 
and for these reasons it was, that they endeavored all they 
could to keep from strangers the knowledge of these advan- 
tages. This town of Quito is well peopled, and was formerly 
the capital of the kingdom that bears its name, but now it de- 
pends upon the government of the viceroy of Lima. 

On the 17th, we got ready and sailed away for the Isle del 
Gallo, which stands at the mouth of the little Bay of Barbacoa, 
a hundred leagues to the leeward of Queaquilla. On the 19th, 
we discovered, by break of day, a ship whom we chased, and 
towards ten in the forenoon, took her : she was a bark come 
from Panama to go and buy negroes, which the English in Ja- 
maica send them by the way of Puerto Bello, and which they 
were going to trade with at Paitas ; they get very considerable 
by these blacks, for the English sell them to the Spaniards for 
four and five hundred pieces of eight a man, and are worth 
three and four hundred with them. We anchored on the 20th 
at the Isle of Gallapo, where we examined the prisoners we 
had taken in the said bark, who told us, that the galley of Pan- 
ama was gone into the Bay of Mapalla, in quest of the French- 
men that were gone ashore upon those islands, which, I have 
already said, are there ; and that, in her return, she was to carry 
the president of Guatemala and his wife to Panama. 

On the 25th, we weighed and sailed for the Isle Cocas, which 
stands north and south of Realeguo, a hundred leagues dis- 
tance. We had a S. W. wind, and sailed W. N. W. On the 
30th we discovered land ; we pinched upon the wind, that we 
might know what place it was : we found towards evening, it 
was the Isle of Mapalla, that stands forty leagues southwards 
of that of St. John's, and from thence we sailed to the Bay of 
Mapalla, instead of going to the Isle of Cocas, from whence 
the wind blew, and consequently was contrary to us. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 429 

From this day forward to the 11th of July, we had the same 
south-west wind, which allayed not, but when it blew from 
the east and south. On the 13th we took our latitude, and 
found we were thirty leagues out at sea from Realeguo, and 
steered north to get to land. On the 16th, at noon, we discov- 
ered the mountains, and put into the cape for fear of being 
discovered. On the 17th, we sent two of our canoes to en- 
deavor to take some one prisoner, that so we might know how 
things were before we brought our ships into the bay. 

In the evening our canoes having discovered what coast it 
was, returned, and told it was St. Michael's Bay, whither the 
currents had driven us in making the cape, and which we took 
for that of Mapalla, whither we would have gone, and which 
stands fourteen leagues to windward of the former, which might 
the more easily have been mistaken from the sea, in that the 
mountains of these two bays are very like one another. We 
lay by to windward of it in the night ; and on the 18th, put 
out our canoes, and continuing at the cape till the 20th, we 
made use of them to go and join our friends at one of the 
islands. As we entered in on the 23d, we were taken with a 
breeze of wind that separated us from one another ; and of five 
sail, whereof our fleet consisted, we had no more than two of 
the least and weakest of our ships left together : but we did 
not lose sight of the other three, though they were got very 
far to leeward, and overtaken with a calm. In the mean time, 
we anchored at the Isle of Tigers, which is the nearest to the 
mouth of it. 

On the 24th, about eight in the morning, we discovered three 
sail of ships, that doubled the point of Harina, which is to the 
windward of that bay, and ten leagues to the leeward of Real- 
eguo ; we presently fired a paterero, to call in our canoes, who 
were ashore to take in water. As soon as they were come on 
board, we made ready and bore up to those ships with a full 
wind, though we had then but very little of it. 

Those three vessels, which were a galley and. two peri- 
augues, bore also towards us, though they saw us not ; but, 
as soon as we were got out and discovered by them, they 
doubled the cape upon us with their sails and oars, and the two 
periaugues, that sailed better than the galley, got behind us, 
and fired fifteen cannon-shot upon us ; but as our arms could 
reach them, these periaugues were forced to fall astern, and to 
wait for their galley. When she had joined them, they held a 
council, and then put out to attack us ; our ships not being able 
to give us any relief, put to the cape to wait for us. We fought 
them all along till we had rejoined our vessels, which we did 



430 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

about two in the afternoon, when the Spaniards left lis to go 
bury their dead upon the island where we had been to take in 
water, when we first discovered them. They did us some 
damage in our mainmast and rigging, and wounded few of our 
men. Towards evening a wind arose from the sea, and we 
sailed in quest of them, but they kept to the shore. 

On the 25th, we passed round the island in search for our 
canoes, which the enemy's galley sought for also, rightly 
imagining they were ashore, as not having seen them with us 
during the action. About two in the afternoon, they discov- 
ered us, and coming out from under their covert, gave us the 
signal, which we on our part answered : they had hid them- 
selves there for four hours, expecting our coming, and had a 
full sight of the engagement, but could not possibly, any more 
than the rest of our ships, come in to our assistance. The 
Spaniards, who saw us take them with us, durst not hinder it, 
though they were at anchor very near them ; then we attempted 
with one of our ships to board the enemy's galley, but she 
saved herself upon the flats, where our ships could not come 
near her. On the 26th, we anchored at an island in the bay, 
where we put two of our vessels to careen, while the other 
three guarded them. On the 28th, we saw a canoe under white 
colors, crossing from the main land to the islands, where one 
of ours met and took her. It was a Spanish captain, who be- 
lieving us to be his own people, came to congratulate the com- 
mander upon the victory, which he, from the shore, thought 
they had got over us. We put him upon the rack, to know 
whether he came not by some wjle or other to draw us into a 
snare laid for us by the galley, as the Greek captain had for- 
merly done ; but he solemnly protested it was not so, and in- 
formed us, that there was a periaugue with thirty men, in the 
same bay where we were, who were gone ashore sometime 
since, and had fought in the race of savannas against six hun- 
dred Spaniards, whose captain, called Don Albarado, who was 
accounted the bravest and most valiant man in the province, 
they had killed ; and that, when we had met with their galley 
and two periaugues, there had eight hundred armed men come, 
not with a design to look after us, but to fight those thirty 
Frenchmen, who could not be conquered by his six hundred 
countrymen ; an admirable instance of the valor of the Span- 
iards in those parts ! 

The Bay of Mapalla is a Very curious place, and full of 
clivers great islands, not inferior in beauty to those of Panama. 
They were formerly inhabited, and there are still three boroughs 
there which the people have forsaken, by reason of the descents 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 431 

* 

of the freebooters. As for anchorage, it is very good here, but 
no good shelter to be found in this place from any corner of the 
wind, great blasts whereof come over those great mountains 
that are at v the bottom of it, so that there are very few cables 
that are proof against them. 

On the 6th of August, one of our men, who was hunting 
upon the island where we were careening, found two men who 
had been there for the space of eight days to observe our mo- 
tions, and who, taking us to be Spaniards, durst not come near 
us. They were two Frenchmen belonging to the periaugue, 
of which the fore-mentioned officer spoke to us, and who bad 
defended themselves so valiantly against the six hundred Span- 
iards ; we found them to be of the number of fourscore and 
five, who had separated themselves under Captain Grognier, to 
go to California; they presently gave notice to the other eight 
and twenty, who came and joined us, and of whom we learned 
that they had saved themselves upon this island, after they had 
been chased a whole night by the Spanish galley, that did not 
sail so well as their periaugue. They told us also, that they 
had gone down a matter of forty leagues to the windward of 
Acapulco, without being able any more than once to go ashore ; 
and that then they ran a great risk, so boisterous is the sea in 
those parts, wherewith they were so discouraged, that they had 
forsaken fifty-five of their companions, in order to come and 
find us out, and left them to continue their course to California. 
Having made an end of our careening on the 10th, we made 
every thing ready for our departure, after we had given those 
thirty men room in our ships. We sailed from the coast of 
Acapulco, with a design to find out the other fifty-five men 
spoken of, who were to make a descent there, and to rid them 
from a miserable state, whereunto, in all appearance, they had 
gone to plunge themselves, without any hopes of retrieve ; be- 
ing too small a company to find out provisions (whereof they 
stood in great need,) in the best peopled country upon the con- 
tinent, where also it could not be believed they could arrive, 
having but a little sorry bark under them, that could not carry 
them far without splitting in two. 

We had, at our departure, an easterly breeze, wherewith we 
were favored till we came to the height of Sansonat ; from the 
1 5th to the 21st, we were becalmed all along in the day-time, and 
the winds were so high in the nights, that we could not carry 
our sails ; on the 22d we had a pretty good gale from the south- 
east ; and, on the 27th, we drew near land, to know where 
we were. We found ourselves to the windward of the Bay of 
Tecoantepequa, and put out our canoes to go in thither, while, 



432 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

at the same time, we appointed our ships to rendezvous m the 
port of Vatulco, which is twenty leagues to the leeward. We 
came very near land in the evening, but the sea runs so high 
along that coast, that it was impossible to go ashore. 

On the 29th we found an embarking place, where there was 
a very strong entrenchment, guarded by a considerable number 
of Spaniards, and, supposing it would cost us dear to go ashore 
in that place, we sailed two leagues to the leeward, where the 
sea was somewhat more pacific, but found here also about three 
hundred men upon an eminence waiting for us. We detached 
fifty of ours to go and meet them ; but the Spaniards, after hav- 
ing made a foolish discharge, fled. However, we took two of 
their number, and asked them whither that way led, upon 
which we were ; they told us it would bring us to the town of 
Tecoantepequa, according to whose name that bay was called, 
and that we had but four leagues to it. We lay next night 
upon the road, under the canopy of heaven, according to onr 
usual custom; next day, which was the 30th, we resolved to 
go to the said town, and directed our course that way, in such 
a manner, that, about two in the afternoon, we had a sight of 
the place from an ascent, which was about half a league off. 

As it is encompassed and beset every way with eight suburbs, 
it seemed to be so large, that we were a long time deliberating 
with ourselves whether so small a number as we were ought to 
go thither, as being no more than a hundred and fourscore men, 
whereas there were three thousand of the enemy in the place. 
In the mean time the extreme necessity we were reduced to, 
for want of provisions, pressed us to advance, and would not 
let us deliberate long upon the danger that lay before us, so that, 
all our apprehensions being reduced to the fear we had of starv- 
ing to death, we pursued our march to go and confront our 
enemies. 

When we had marched about half an hour, we found our- 
selves near the town, and upon the brink of a great and very 
rapid river, which separates it from four of the suburbs that 
adjoin to it; this river we crossed over, being up in the water 
to the middle, in spite of the Spaniards, who were entrenched 
on the other side, to dispute the passage with us, which they 
were forced to leave open for us, after a good hour's sharp dis- 
pute. As soon as we were masters of the entrenchment, we 
entered the town, where, after we had fought hand in hand 
with the enemy, like men enraged with hunger, we became 
masters of the place of arms about four iti the afternoon. But 
our work was not yet done, for the enemy, having again en- 
trenched themselves in a very fine abbey, built in the manne- 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. , 433 

4 

of a platform that commanded the town, we went, to the num- 
ber of fourscore men, to dislodge them, which was so readily 
executed, that, having chased them thence, we made our court 
of guard of it, and then every one endeavored to satisfy that 
hunger wherewith we were extremely pinched. 

When we were got into this town, we found it yet much 
more spacious and larger than it appeared to be unto us, from 
the fore-mentioned ascent ; its nouses are well built, the 
streets very straight, and the churches exceedingly stately and 
ornamental. Tbe abbey of St. Francis, from whence we drove 
the enemy, appeared more like unto a fort than a religious con- 
vent, and it was built to serve for that use in case of need. 

On the 31st we sent to require them to ransom their town, 
or else we would burn it. We had no answer returned, which 
made us conjecture they had a mind to come and attack us ; 
for which they had so much the more advantage, in that the 
river, which began, from the time we had passed it, to overflow, 
was about to hem us in ; wherefore we decamped, and lay in 
one of the suburbs that stands on the other side, where we 
continued to the 3d of September ; when we departed to return 
to our canoes, without reaping any advantage by the taking of 
this town. We reembarked on the 5th, and went to join our 
ships in the port of Vatulco, where we arrived the 9th. On 
the 15th we went off again iif our canoes without a guide, and, 
having landed, marched ten or a dozen leagues up the country, 
where we took divers villages, and in one of them the old gov- 
ernor of Marida with his family, who was retired to this place, 
and who promised us a quantity of provisions for his ransom ; 
in expectation whereof we carried him on shipboard, where 
we arrived on the 25th. The same day, about ten in the morn- 
ing, we discovered a ship, and put out with our canoes to know 
what she was ; she bare to the cape, and put up Spanish col- 
ors ; but as the sea ran very high, and that our canoe could 
not well weather it, we returned again into port. Now this 
ship believed it was her colors that hindered us to come on 
board her, wherefore she took the same down, and put up a 
white flag in the room of them ; we at the same time fitted up 
our galley to go and hail her, but she could never get out of 
the port; whereupon she sailed away, and, as our ships were 
much out of order, we could not follow her. She was undoubt- 
edly a frigate built in the North Sea, but it was impossible for 
us to know what nation she belonged to. 

The sea being calm on the 26th, we went with our galley 
about twenty leagues to the windward of Acapulco, to see if the 
above-mentioned ship were not put into port, we judging by her 
" 37 



434 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

rigging she wanted to put in somewhere to land ; but we re- 
turned without any news of her. We waited till the 4th of 
November for the ransom of the governor, which we did not 
overmuch press for, as finding in this port, and parts adjacent, 
plenty of victuals, particularly of tortoises, which we had there 
in great numbers, and hattoes, that are to be met with up and 
down frequently here, furnished us with all other necessaries ; 
beside that, we had here a place of security from the insult of 
the Spaniards. 

It is impossible to go ashore from Sansonat to Acapulco, un- 
less it be in the ports or bays ; and though that which they call 
the salt-pits be difficult of access, because of the smallness of 
it, and that the sea there runs very high, yet they esteem it a 
bay for all that. It is the next you meet with after Sansonat, 
and stands twenty leagues to the windward of that of Tecoante- 
pequa, which the Spaniards set down also for a bay in their 
charts, though it be so far from being deep, that it can scarce 
be distinguished from the rest of the coast. There is a lake 
at the bottom of this last place bearing the same name, with 
which it had formerly a communication, but whose mouth at 
present is stopped up by a bank of sand which the waves have 
drove thither. This lake hems in three islands that are not far 
distant from one another, and all of them very near the mouth 
thereof. Some years since the htiurquaof Acapulco, that went 
to the East Indies, in its return entered into this lake through 
the bay, and we understood that some Spaniards had entered 
by the other end of it into the river of Vastaqua, that dis- 
charges itself into a bay of New Spain, and consequently to 
the North Sea. 

When the hourqua returns from the Philippine Islands, where 
the Spaniards drive a great traffic, it is one of the richest ves- 
sels that sails upon the ocean ; it is of a prodigious bigness, and 
built so strong, that she is afraid of nothing but land and fire. 
She is provided with forty pieces of cannon, whereof one half 
are of no use to her, for her lading makes her sink so deep in the 
water, that her battery between the two decks is rendered use- 
less. She goes out yearly from the port of Acapulco, convoy- 
ed with a patach of twenty-eight guns, and laden with several 
sorts of merchandise that she carries to the inhabitants of those 
islands, who, by way of barter for the same, give a great deal 
of those curious China and Japan ware we see in Europe, and, 
what is yet more valuable, pearls, gold dust, and precious stones. 

This ship had great advantage in making this voyage, that 
is, that, in making choice of a proper season, she goes and re- 
turns in a twelve months' time, comprehending the while they 



THE, BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 435 

stay in that country, without being put to the trouble of veer- 
ing about, and shifting the sails; and it is beyond dispute, that 
she cannot be met with by any that wait for her before the 
port of Acapulco, at a certain season of the year, which I shall 
take no notice of here, for reasons I have spoken of in the be- 
ginning of this journal. 

I shall not forget also to remark in this place, that it will be 
so much the more easy to take her, in that when she returns 
from those parts with the patach, all her crew are in so sickly 
and dying a condition, that of four hundred men that make 
up the complement, there are not one fourth of them in a con- 
dition to defend it ; and this distemper, which they call scorbu- 
tus, never fails them in their return from the Philippines, inso- 
much that a ship, which goes from the North Sea with a design 
to look after this hourqua, might, in less than eighteen months' 
time, abating the perils and accidents which she might be liable 
to at sea, return with immense riches. 

About twenty leagues to leeward of the bay of Tecoantepe- 
qua stands the port of Vatulco, so small, that it cannot contain 
above ten or a dozen ships ; but yet they must have an anchor 
fore and aft, for, if they had no more than an anchor out at the 
forecastle, they would fall foul upon another, in endeavoring 
to avoid it upon the change of wind or tide. 

At the entrance into the port, which is very narrow, there is 
a whirlpool to the leeward, which the Spaniards call bosadera, 
whereinto the water enters in so violent a manner that it makes 
a noise that may be heard above four leagues off. 

Four leagues lower there is another port, where you cannot 
anchor with safety, because of the rocks, whereof the bottom of 
it is full. In the passage to it stands a great rock, called the 
fourillon, which is all over as well as continually so covered 
with those sorts of birds which we had before seen in the 
River of Villia, that there remains nothing of the surface of it „ 
to be seen ; and a little further is an island called Sacrifice. 

About eight leagues lower there are three small ports of a 
league's distance one from another, whereof that called the 
Angels is the best ; it is no difficult matter to find the passage 
to it, provided you sail along the shore, but it is impossible to 
perceive it from the main. There is a rock stands at the mouth 
of it that has a hole therein resembling a large gate. From 
this port to Acapulco, which is sixty leagues olf, we haye no 
harbor. 

The country, which extends itself from the Bay of Salt Pits , 
as far as Acapulco, is that upon the South Sea that is best peo- 
pled, and where there are moreover several famous and very 



436 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

rich towns; more gold mines are also* found there than in Peru, 
though the metal is not so fine ; and those of Tinsigal alone 
are more valued by the Spaniards than the mines of Potosi ; 
and therefore it is not without reason that this western coast is 
called by the name of Costa Rica, though, in our geographical 
maps, they bestow this name only upon a small part of this 
vast tract of land. 

On the 7th we went to make a descent upon a little town 
called Muemeluna, which is eight leagues to the windward of 
Vatulco, and six up the country, about four leagues from the 
sea-side, and two from the town. We found a very strong en- 
trenchment made upon a rock that stands upon the river; but 
the Spaniards therein made no great resistance, no more than in 
the town where we completed our victualling. The prisoners 
we took told us, that, about a month before they had seen a 
frigate pass by, that sent a small canoe with seven or eight men 
in it to their embarking place, where they found some Span- 
iards, who made them embark again with so much precipita- 
tion, that one of their men was drowned; and whom indeed we 
found dead upon the shore, whither the sea had thrown him, 
with his fusil lying some paces from him, which would not 
have lain so long there, no more than the dead carcass, if the 
Spaniards had espied it. For they believe themselves revenged 
when they cut into pieces or burn the dead body of an enemy ; 
and we were assured that, when we buried any of our men hi 
their country, they dug them up when we were gone, if they 
knew the place, for to exercise their cruelty upon those carcasses, 
which, when alive, they could not make us feel. 

We returned on the 16th aboard our ships, and on the 20th, 
not being able, all along the coast, to hear any news of the 
five and fifty men we were in quest of, we weighed anchor, 
and directed our course for the Bay of Mapalla. where we were 
minded to agree npon the place by which we were to repass to 
the North Sea. On the 21st we had a north wind that carried 
us to a certain latitude where the west winds reign : and this 
continued to the 23d, when we were becalmed. On the 1st 
of December at night, we had a storm which separated us one 
from another, and thus we continued alone, and without any 
water, for all our casks were run out, whereby we were reduced 
to the greatest extremity, though we were but two leagues from 
the shore. But it was impossible for us to go ashore, for it is 
a bank of sand that reaches from the bar of St. Mark as far as 
,Sansonat, for the space of about fourscore leagues, where the 
sea breaks with great violence. Believing ourselves on the 6th 
to be to the windward of this bank, we armed our periaugue to 



THE BUCCANEERS OE AMERICA. 437 

go near the shore, and look out for a place where the sea was 
calmer. Next day one of onr men, being more impatient than 
the rest, and urged on with drought, that had tormented him four 
days, swam to land ; but thinking to return in the same man- 
ner, he was drowned, without our being able to succor him, 
notwithstanding all the cry he made unto us to save him. On 
the 9th, in the beginning of the night, we thought to have seen 
a little bay, before which we anchored, that we might know 
in the morning what it was, during which time we heard the 
firing of about six hundred muskets on the land. As soon as 
day-light appeared on the 10th, we saw that what we took for 
a bay was a kind of a covert that stands fifteen leagues to the 
leeward of Sansonat, where we could see no likelihood of en- 
tering in. In the mean time we saw a very pretty ship upon 
the stocks in that place, which made us conclude there must of 
necessity be a passage for her to come out. We anchored pretty 
near the rock, to wait for a tide, during which time a wind blew 
from the sea, and we adventured with the help of our sails and 
oars to get in, where we were saluted with three waves that 
had filled our periaugue in the very sight of the Spaniards, 
who watched our entering in. 

We put up to one side of the said covert, and fired for the 
space of half an hour upon their magazines, built by the side 
thereof, without their returning us one single shot ; but at last, 
we being tormented with violent drought, which we were de- 
sirous to allay, whatever it cost us, we hoisted up our sail, and 
run up our periaugue before them, who, believing we were 
going to their town, that was but half a league off, they went 
off. But as we were no more than two and twenty men, 
instead of running after them, we improved their flight in fill- 
ing our casks with water, and to furnish ourselves with what 
provisions we found in the magazines, and some of that ship's 
rigging, which were more necessary for ours ; but not daring 
all at once to laden our periaugue with them, for fear of sink- 
ing in her passage out, we spent the night on the other side of 
those magazines, that we might be under covert from the sur- 
prises of our enemies, for we computed very well, by the six 
hundred musket-shot we had heard, that there were a great 
many armed men in that place. 

On the 11th we departed from under the covert, to go and 
join our ship, which we found on the 12th in the morning,, 
lying at anchor eight leagues to the windward of Sansonat, 
where she had found the sea somewhat more favorable. We 
spent that day to take in water, and sent twenty men to take 
a village that was about half a league from the sea-side, from 
37 * 



438 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

whence we returned the same day with some refreshments, thai 
put life into our ship's crew, now much weakened with the 
thirst they endured, as well .as we who were in the periaugue, 
as also with hanger, which failed not to waste us away, though 
we had victuals to satisfy the same ; but we durst not eat for 
fear of being made dry. We weighed anchor in the evening, 
with a west wind, and on the fifteenth arrived in the Bay of 
MapaJla. where we found the rest of our vessels at anchor near 
one of those islands that lie within it. 

I am to observe, that as long as we were going up this coast, 
continually in the night time there blew winds from the land, 
which were very favorable to sailors, provided they were not 
far out at sea, for ten leagues off there could be but very little 
of it felt ; and there are certain reasons when it blows so vio- 
lently that they are obliged to lower their sails, and even to 
furl. On the 17th, we had a consultation together, about what 
passage, according to the prisoners' relations, was less dangerous 
for us to return to the North Sea, over land : it was thought our 
best way was by Segovia, seeing we had no more than sixty 
leagues to go before we came to the head of a river, upon which 
they told us we might go down to the North Sea, whereunto it 
discharged itself; and that, in the way we were to take by land, 
we could have no more than five or six thousand men to deal 
with, and that the way was very good to carry our wounded and 
sick men along with us. But we were not fully convinced of 
the sincerity of this advice ; we sent two of our canoes to 
shore, to take some other prisoners, that so we might see whether 
they should confirm or contradict this information, and thereby 
be the more fully instructed concerning those things that might 
be an obstruction to our passage, and others that might facili- 
tate the same. 

We went ashore on the 18th, to the number of seventy men, 
and marched all day long without meeting one soul, as we did 
also the next day till noon, without any more discovery than 
in the preceding one, wherewith we were so fatigued, that we 
resolved to return back again ; and here we may add, that the 
greatest part of our men were not over content to repass by 
land to the North Sea, because of the five or six thousand men 
wherewith we were threatened ; wherefore we left those that 
were minded to return to their canoes, and eighteen of us, who 
found ourselves less weary than the rest, staid behind. We fol- 
lowed a great road which we met with soon after they had 
left us, and had not walked above an hour, when we took 
three horsemen, who, when we had asked where we were, 
told us, that about a quarter of a league off there was a little 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. ' 439 

town called Chiloteca, wherein there were four hundred white 
men, besides negroes, mulattoes, and Indians, and assured ns we 
had not yet been discovered. We had a mind to run after our 
men to acquaint them with this account, and engage them to 
go back with us to the town : but the apprehensions we were 
under of being discovered, and thereby giving the inhabitants 
time to put themselves into a posture of defence, hindered us 
to do so, and made us undertake, perhaps, the boldest; most 
resolute, and if you will, the rashest action, that could be 
thought of; which was, that, being no more of ns than eight- 
een men, as I have said before, we should adventurously enter 
that town, where we surprised and frightened the Spaniards to 
that degree, that we took the tenient and other officers, to the 
number in all of fifty persons, including the women, prisoners. 
They were seized with such a panic fear, supposing us to be 
far more numerous than we were, that all the rest would doubt- 
less have been taken and bound by us, had it not been for their 
horses, which are always at hand, which they mounted to ride 
away upon. And so it was, as w^e would have it, for if they 
had had courage to stay behind, they might have cut out work 
for us, whereof we had already but too much, which was, to 
watch our prisoners. 

We asked the tenient where the galley of Panama was, who 
made answer, she lay at anchor in the embarking place of Car- 
thage, which is Caldaira, where she waited for us, as hoping 
we would pass that way to go to the North Sea, and that the 
king of Spain's ship, the St. Lorenzo, was in the port of Real- 
eguo, mounted with thirty pieces of cannon and four hundred 
men on board, to hinder us to come near that place, which they 
began to settle in again. As we had a desire to lie in this little 
town where we now were, we further asked him what number 
of men we should have occasion for to guard us, if we should 
stay there ; he told us, there would be six hundred men^ next 
day there, but that they had no more fire-arms than for two 
hundred. The Spaniards, who, during this time, were a little 
recovered of their astonishment, being got together, entered 
into the town again ; and after we had several times conflicted 
with them, we entrenched ourselves in the church where we 
had put our prisoners, who, seeing us go in with precipitation, 
believed their people pursued us close, and were just upon fall- 
ing on us ; which made them so bold as to run to the swords 
and other arms we had got together, wherewith they wounded 
us one man. We presently got to the doors, and from thence 
fired upon them so long, till there were no more than four men 
and their wives, left alive of them. At the same time we 



440 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

mounted the horses which we had taken, and with our four 
prisoners, of each sex, went away with as little noise as we 
could, which the other Spaniards observing, they sent one tc 
treat with us ; but we refused, and fired upon him, for fear if 
he came too near us, he should come to know how few we were. 
Next day, which* was the 20th, we rejoined our other people, 
who had rested themselves at a hatto they had met with in 
their return, and who gave us assistance against six hundred 
of those Spaniards who followed in the rear of us : then we 
gave the women prisoners their liberty. On the 21st we went 
on board our canoes, and next day reached our ships, where we 
interrogated our four new prisoners concerning the passage we 
had projected ; but they laid so many difficulties before us, that 
we grew almost out of conceit with it. But yet, when we 
considered we must either make our way through, or end our 
days miserably in a horrible want of all convenient necessaries, 
and in an enemy's country, where we grew weaker every day 
by the loss of our men, we resolved to hazard all to get out of 
it : insomuch that being no longer daunted at the dangers we 
were it), in this passage, and being persuaded it would be better 
for us to die with our swords in our hands than to pine away 
with hunger, we made all things ready for this journey ; and 
to the end we might cut off from the most timorous any desires 
they might have to return to their ships, if their minds should 
alter, in reference to their going along with us, we ran our ves- 
sels ashore, except our galley and periaugues, which we reserved 
to carry us off the island where we were to the continent. 

On the 25th, we formed four companies, consisting of sev- 
enty men each, making all together two hundred and fourscore ; 
and as for the forlorn hope, we agreed for to draw out ten men 
out of each, and to relieve them every morning. We also 
made a contract among ourselves, that those who should be 
lamed in the encounters we might have with the enemy in our 
way, should have the same recompense as formerly, that is, a 
thousand pieces of eight a man ; that the horses we should 
take should be divided between the companies for the ease of 
all our men, and for those that were incommoded above any 
of the rest ; hat those that straggled and should be lamed, 
should have no recompense made them ; and that violence, 
cowardice and drunkenness should also be punished as formerly. 

Before I leave these seas, I will spare the reader the trouble 
of asking how we came to endure so much hunger, miseries, 
and fatigues in these parts, since I have said upon several oc- 
casions, that the country is so good and pleasant, as well as 
fruitful in tho production of all things necessary for the support 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 44] 

and comfort of human life ; as to this, there needs no more 
than observing, that since our separation from the English at 
the Isle of St. John, we were all along so ill accommodated 
with shipping, that we were forced to keep continually to the 
coast ; and by consequence, in sight of the Spaniards, who dis- 
covering even the least motions we made, had almost always 
time to remove all their effects out of the way, before we made 
our descent, and left us nothing but what they could not carry 
away, which was many times very inconsiderable ; whereas, 
had we had but one good ship to put out far to sea, they could 
not have discovered us, and we should have surprised them 
continually in our descents, where we could have wanted noth- 
ing, not only that was necessary, but also pleasurable, besides 
the wealth we must have carried away in a short time. 

This want of shipping under which we labored, was so ad- 
vantageous to our enemies, and the consequence thereof they 
knew so well, that the people of Peru sent no more ships to 
the western coast where we were, for fear some of them might 
fall into our hands, and traded with one another ,no otherwise 
than by land. 

The same reason also hindered us to go up to the coast of 
Peru, where we could not have failed of having ships, seeing 
they sailed up and down there every day, and drove a great 
trade with one another, as< knowing we were not so near unto 
their country ; so that it is easy, from what I have remarked, 
to conjecture that for want of these helps, which were of so 
much importance to us in these seas, we must also very often 
stand in need of all those things which we could not but with 
the greatest difficulty have without them ; wherefore, to make 
any thing of it in these climates, and to raise a considerable for- 
tune without much danger and sufferings, there needs no more 
than to be provided with a good ship, and for the better con- 
veniency victualled for some time, that so there may be no 
necessity of going ashore to seek it. 

On the 27th, we discovered a ship passing along between the 
islands, which made us send our galley and periaugue to see 
what she was. She put up a white flag, but, as soon as we 
came within musket-shot of her, she took down the white flag, 
and put out Spanish colors, and withal gave us ten or a dozen 
guns ; we returned to the shore to give our people notice of it, 
not doubting, but if that ship came to an anchor in the same 
place, she would destroy our periaugues. We sent them with 
our baggage and prisoners up to the flats that are behind the 
island, where we were. 



442 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

This vessel, about noon, came in with the tide, and anchored 
within half a cannon-shot of ours that were run ashore, under the 
covert of which we fought against them with two pieces of 
cannon, till it was night ; but as the enemy had no other aim 
than to rnin our ships, they put them this first day out of a 
condition to sail, which was what oursJftves had a mind to, and 
then put farther off from the shore. 

On the 28th, in the morning, they drew nearer again, and 
began to fight us, which made us shelter ourselves behind the 
points of the rocks that run out into the sea, from whence our 
arms carried aboard them ; upon this, they were forced to send 
their shallop under the favor of their cannon, to take away an 
anchor that was nearer to shore than their ship ; but being pre- 
vented therein, they cut off the cable that held it, and put off, 
again. At last, concluding with ourselves that this ship would 
not leave us so hastily, we sent a hundred men in the evening 
to the continent before us, that they might endeavor to take 
some horses, on which we might lay our disabled men. with 
orders afterwards to return and wait for us upon the sea-side, in 
the same place where they went ashore, (which was a kind of 
a port we had assigned them,) in case they had returned before 
our arrival there. And for fear the Spanish ship should suspect, 
from the running of ours aground, the design we had to go to 
the North Sea, and that the men on board her would send to the 
continent to give the people notice to put themselves in a read- 
iness to hinder us, we counterfeited all night long the caulking 
of our ships, that so we might fully possess them with a belief 
that we were careening them, which wrought so effectually upon 
them, that in the morning they failed not to come up, to destroy 
with their cannon the work they fancied we had been doing 
during the night. * 

On the 29th their ship took fire, which made them put far- 
ther off, where they extinguished it. On the 30th, we made 
use of a new stratagem to amuse our enemies, and take away 
all manner of suspicion from them that we designed to be 
gone, which was to charge our guns, grenades, and four pieces 
of cannon, whereunto we tied lighted matches of different 
lengths, that so, having their effect in our absence, one after 
another, the Spanish ship's crew might still believe we were I 
upon the island, from whence we parted in the twilight, asl 
secretly as ever we could, with all our prisoners, whom we re- 
served for no other use than to carry our surgeon's medicines, 
carpenter's tools, and the wounded men we might havp in this 
passage. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 443 

On the 1st of January, in the year 168S, we arrived on the 
continent ; and on the evening of the same day, the party 
which we had sent before to look for horses, came thither like- 
wise. They had taken sixty-eight, with several prisoners, who, 
without any violence offered them, told us, they did not think 
it advisable we should travel through Segovia, because the 
Spaniards had intelligence we had made choice of that province 
to pass through ; but as we had already resolved upon the mat- 
ter, and that our ships could be of no longer use unto us, all 
that they could say to the contrary did not hinder us to perse- 
vere therein. All our people, at the same time, packed up every 
man his charge, and put their silver into bags, which they 
thought they could carry with their ammunition. Those who 
had too much of the former, gave it to those who had lost 
theirs at play, for to carry, conditioning with them, that they 
should return the one half back to the owner, in -case it should 
please God to bring them safe to the North Sea. 

As for myself, I must say I was none of the worst provided, 
and though my charge was lighter than others, yet it was not, 
for all that, less considerable for the value, seeing I had con- 
verted thirty thousand pieces of eight, into gold, pearls, and 
precious stones. But, as the best part of this was the product 
of luck I had at play, some of those who had been losers, as 
well in playing against me as others, being much discontented 
at their losses, plotted together, to the number of seventeen or 
eighteen, to murder those that were the richest amongst us. I 
was so happy as to be timely advertised of it by some friends, 
which did not a little disquiet my mind, for it was a very diffi- 
cult task for a man, during so long a journey, to be able to se- 
cure himself from being surprised by those who were continu- 
ally in the same company, and with whom we must eat, drink, 
and sleep, and who could cut off whom they pleased of them, 
in the conflicts they might have with the Spaniards, by shoot- 
ing us during the hurry, which yet they executed in another 
manner, as may be seen in due place. The apprehensions I 
had of this conspiracy did not hinder me to retain so much 
judgment and presence of mind, as to fall presently upon such 
methods as I thought most rational and secure for the preser- 
vation of my life, and which effectually saved it ; which was 
to deposit some of what I possessed in the hands of divers per- 
sons, and that, in the presence of all the rest, upon condition 
they should restore unto me such a proportion as I agreed with 
them for, when we were come upon the coast of Domingo. 
By this means, I rid myself of the care I should continually 



444 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

have had of keeping upon my guard, without exposing them 
much neither, who carried my effects, the which being divided 
diversely and to different persons, they had to do with too many 
people to compass their ends. It is true, I paid dear for this 
precaution j but what will not a man do to save his life ? 



CHAPTER LVI. 

The Return of the Freebooters from the South to the North Sea, over the 
Continent, by another Way than that by which they got thither. 

On the 2d day of January, in the morning, after we had said 
our prayers, and sunk our periaugues, lest the Spaniards should 
have any benefit of them, we set out, and lay that night by the 
sea-side ; we stopped next day about noon, at a hatto, to bait. 
On the 4th, we lay upon a platform that extends itself upon 
the tops of several high mountains, where the Spaniards, not- 
withstanding all the precautions we had taken, were advertised 
of our departure, and failed not to let us have their company, 
keeping themselves always in our flanks and rear. 

On the 8th, we lay at another hatto, belonging to the tenient 
of Chiloteca, about which place the enemy began to barricade 
the ways. We rested on the 6th for an hour and better, at an 
estantia to bait ; and upon a bed, in a hall there, we found the 
following letter, directed unto us, in these words : — 

4 

" We are very glad that you have made choice of our prov- 
ince for your passage through, homewards ; but we are sorry 
you are no better laden with silver ; however, if you have oc- 
casion for mules to carry your baggage, we will send them to 
you. We hope to have the French General Grognier very 
quickly in our power, and we will leave you to consider what 
is like to become of the soldiers. " 

We saw clearly by this letter that they knew nothing of the 
death of Grognier, since they believed he was still our com- 
mander ; and that they had no knowledge of him, but by the 
account that had been given them by the three men that had 
run away from him to them, when they failed of getting the 
gold of the mines of Tinsigal. 

On the 7th, we met with an ambuscade of the enemy, whom 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 445 

our vanguard forced to retire, and lay in the evening at a hatto. 
The Spaniards, who left no means unattempted to destroy us, 
burnt all the provision that was in our way, and also when we 
entered into any savannas where the grass was very dry, they 
went to the windward of us to set it on fire, whereby we were 
very much incommoded, and our horses were even stifled with „ 
the smoke. As we were sometimes obliged to stay till the fire 
had burnt up all, to go forwards, this very much retarded our 
march ; and this was the chief thing the Spaniards aimed at, 
that the men might have leisure to finish an entrenchment, 
whereof I shall quickly have occasion to speak, which they 
erected unknown to us, at some distance off from our road, to 
which also the work they cut out for us to remove the barri- 
cades of trees, wherewith they had encumbered the way, con- 
tributed very much ; insomuch that, not being able to penetrate 
into their designs, we persuaded ourselves that they did all this 
with no other intent than to chagrin us only, as being not able 
to do worse unto, us, or I should have rather said, having not 
the courage for it. 

On the 8th we passed on to a very fine sugar plantation, and, 
as we were very desirous to take some prisoners who might 
inform us of what was done, all our company filed off, and 
twenty of us staid behind in a house, after they had set it on 
fire, to oblige the Spaniards to come and put it out, when they 
saw our men at a distance from them, and this they failed not 
to do. But our impatience being the means of discovering us 
too soon, they thereupon fled ; yet we, firing upon them, 
wounded one, and took him, by whom we understood that all 
their reeuforcements were coming together to dispute our pas- 
sage, and that we were going to meet them that came from 
Tinsigal, who consisted of three hundred men. 

When we had done with this wounded man, we rejoirfed our 
main body, who had halted to wait for us, and then jogged on 
till we came to a great borough, where we found those three 
hundred men, who afterwards were our continual guard, for 
they gave us, morning and evening, .the diversion of their 
trumpets ; but it was like the music of the enchanted palace 
of Psyche, who heard it without seeing the musicians ; for ours 
marched on each side of us, in places so covered with pine- 
trees that it was impossible to perceive them. 

We lay this evening about a quarter of a league from the 
said borough, upon an ascent, according to our usual manner, 
who never encamped but upon high ground, or in the race of 
savannas, for fear of being hemmed in. We decamped on the 
9th in the morning, after we had reenforced our advanced guards 
38 



446 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

with forty men more, who were appointed to fire their muskets 
at the entries or avenues of the woods, that we might have a 
sight of the Spaniards, in case they laid any ambuscades for 
lis. In the mean time, about ten in the morning we passed on 
to a place that was so thin set with wood, that we might see a 
considerable distance from us, and, seeing no enemy appear, we 
did not fire at all. But we did not dream that we were seek- 
ing for that far before us, which we had at the sides of us, for 
the Spaniards, who were ranged to the right and left of our 
way, lying on their bellies, made their discharges with so much 
precipitation, that there was no more than one half of our 
advanced guard who had time to answer their firing. They 
killed us two men presently, who were turned out of the way 
to pass undiscovered of the enemy ; after which we went to 
refresh ourselves in a little town that was in our way, and lay 
half a league beyond it. 

We met with another ambuscade on the 10th, wherein we 
were beforehand with our enemies, and made them leave ns 
their horses ; then went -to bait at another borough, and lay a 
little farther. 

On the 11th, as we drew nearer unto the town of Segovia, 
we met with a new ambuscade a little on this side it, and, when 
we had forced them with our fusils to retire, we went into the 
said town, being resolved and disposed to fight stoutly, as be- 
lieving, if the Spaniards were minded to try us, they would use 
their greatest effort in that place ; but they contented themselves 
with firing only a few musket-shot at us from under the covert 
of some pine-trees that grew upon the ascents which encompass 
the town, whither they had retired. We found nothing there to 
eat, because they had burnt all the provision in the place. 

By good luck we took a prisoner to conduct us to the river 
we sdught for, and which was still twenty leagues off, foras- 
much as those who had been our guides as far as Segovia knew 
not the way any farther. 

This town lies in a bottom, and is so surrounded with moun- 
tains, that she looks. as if she were laid up in prison. The 
churches here are but very indifferently built, and the place of 
arms is both very considerable and very fine ; it is an inland 
place forty leagues off from the'South Sea. The way that leads 
to it, from the place where we were, is very difficult, being all 
mountains of a prodigious height, tu the tops whereof we must 
creep with great danger, and the valleys consequently are so 
very narrow here, that for a league of even ground you pass 
over, you have six leagues of mountains to go. When we had 
passed these mountains we felt a very sharp cold, and were 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 447 

taken with so thick a fog, that, even when day appeared, we 
could not know one another otherwise than by our voices ; 
but that lasted not till above ten in the morning, when the 
weather cleared up, and the fog went entirely off; and the 
heat, which succeeds the cold, becomes there very great, as 
well as in the plains, where none of this cold is felt till you 
come directly to the foot of the mountains. Thus we were 
forced to end ufe such contrary seasons, as well when we trav- 
elled, as when we reposed ourselves, that they exposed us to 
very great inconveniences ; but the hopes of getting once into 
our native country made us patiently to endure all their toils, 
and served as so many wings to carry us. 

On the 12th we departed from this town, and went up other 
mountains, where we had incredible trouble to clear the ways 
of those works the Spaniards had prepared to barricade them 
up with. We went to lodge in a hatto, where they fired very 
much in the night into our camp. 

On the 13th, an hour before sunrising, we mounted along 
an eminence, that seemed to us to be an advantageous place to 
encamp on ; from whence we saw, upon the edge of a mountain 
from which we were separated but by a narrow valley, twelve 
or fifteen horses, which we took for some time for cattle that 
fed there, whereat we much rejoiced, as being in hopes we 
should next morning have good cheef at the cost of these 
animals ; and, that we might be the more assured of the mat- 
ter, we sent forty men thither, who told us, at their return, that 
what we took for beeves were all saddled horses, and that they 
had observed three entrenchments in the same place, about 
pistol-shot one from another, which, rising by degrees towards 
the middle of the same side of the mountain, fully barricaded 
the way through which we were to pass next day, and com- 
manded a small stream that ran along the said Valley, into 
which we must necessarily descend first, there being no other 
way, -nor any likelihood of our going on one side thereof. 
They saw also a man, who, as soon as he discovered them, 
severely threatened them with his cutlass, which he held naked 
in his hand. 

These sad tidings were a mighty alloy to our joy, and the 
transformation of those pretended beeves, on whom our pining 
appetite had depended so much, affected us to a great degree ; 
but these thoughts were at present to be laid aside, to make 
room for to consider how we should disentangle ourselves 
from that, place, and that without delay, because the Spaniards, 
who were gathering together from all the adjacent provinces, 
would quickly fall upon our small company, who must of neces- 



448 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

sity be overborne by them, if we staid for them. The means 
to effect this were not easily found, and perhaps it would have 
appeared an impossible thing to any other than such as we 
were, who, till then, had been successful almost in all our un- 
dertakings ; and, to be plain in the matter, we found ourselves 
now hard put to it. For. as I observed to the rest of our peo- 
ple, ten thousand men could not be able to force their way 
through that entrenchment, without being cut to pieces, as well 
because of the advantage of the place, as the number of Span- 
iards that defended it, which we might compute by that of their 
horses ; and, seeing a single man could hardly pass on one side 
of it, there was no likelihood we should be able to do it with 
our horses and baggage, so rough was the country. And indeed, 
saving the road itself, all the re£t was no other than a thick for- 
est, without either ways or paths, full of sharp rocks in some 
places, of quagmires in others, and embarrassed with a great 
many trees that had dropped down to the ground with age. 
And, though after all, we should have found out a way to 
escape across so many obstacles, there was still an indispensable 
necessity that we should fight with the Spaniards, that we might 
be at quiet for the rest of our journey. This they all agreed 
to; but, as they objected unto me, that it was to no purpose to 
represent these difficulties, which of themselves were but too 
apparent, without proposing some method to surmount them, 
nor to give counsel without facilitating the execution thereof, 
I told them, that, for my part, I could not see what else we 
could do but go across those woods, precipices, mountains, and 
rocks, howsoever inaccessible they appeared to be, and endeav- 
or to surprise the enemy in the rear, and to gain the advan- 
tage of the ground from them, by getting above them, where 
surely we were not expected; and that I would answer for the 
success of the same at the peril of my life, if they would un- 
dertake it. That, as for our prisoners, horses, and baggage, 
wherewith we were encumbered, we ought not to leave them 
defenceless to the discretion of those three hundred men, who 
always kept close to us in our march, and encamped every eve- 
ning about a musket-shot off. That we ought to leave four- 
score men to guard them with all necessary precaution, as you 
will hear by and by, and that such a number was enough to 
fight with so many Spaniards four times told. 

We took some time to deliberate hereupon ; and, at length, 
these expedients, how hazardous soever they were, being found 
the most suitable to the condition^we were in, and I may say 
the only ones we had left us, we resolved to lay hold of them, 
and put the same in execution. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 449 

Scarce had we projected the design, and considered the 
ascent where we were, the situation of the opposite mountain, 
where the Spaniards had made their entrenchments, but that 
above the highest of them we saw a road, which we took to 
be the continuation of that which they had shut up against us, 
and, turning to the right, went winding about the side of the 
same mountain ; which yet we could not discover but with 
difficulty, and by lights peeping in between the trees, which 
would allow us to see but some traces at a distance from one 
another. 

As we had not hitherto resolved upon which side to pitch, 
in order to get behind those entrenchments, whether the right 
or left, this way decided that point, being well satisfied that, 
if we could but once cross it, it would bring us directly upon 
the enemy. But yet, that we might not engage ourselves in- 
considerately in this enterprise, where all things went for us, 
we sent twenty men, while we had any daylight left, to a 
place that was somewhat higher than that where we were, to 
cover another party, whom we had known by experience to 
have been very ingenious and expert upon several occasions, 
that so they might pitch upon those places by which we might, 
in the night, the more easily get up as far as that road, thereby 
to go and charge the enemy in the rear, by break of day. 

As soon as our men were returned and gave us an account of 
what they had observed, we made all things ready for our de- 
parture ; but we first made that station, we were leaving, a 
place of arms, where we left our baggage, all the prisoners we 
had, and fourscore men to guard them, and this, that the three 
hundred Spaniards who continually followed us, as well as 
those who were behind the entrenchments, might be persuaded 
we had not left our camp ; and we gave the officer that com- 
manded order to make every sentinel he set or relieved in the 
night-time, to fire his fusil, and that he should beat the drum 
at the usual hour. We told him, moreover, that, if God gave 
us the victory, we should send a party to bring him off, and 
that if, about an hour after he heard the firing at an end, he did 
not see any body from us, he should provide for his own safety 
as well as he could. 

Things being thus disposed, we said our prayers as low as 
we could, that the Spaniards might not hear us, from whom we 
were separated but by the valley we have spoke of. At the 
same time we set forward, to the number of two hundred men, 
by moonlight, it being now an hour within night : and, about 
one more after our departure, we heard the Spaniards also at their 
prayers, who, knowing we were encamped very near them, fired 
38* 



4/)0 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

about six hundred muskets into the air to frighten us. Besides 
which, they also made a discharge at all the responses of the 
litany of the saints which they sung. We still pursued our 
march, and spent the whole night (in going down, and then 
getting up) to advance half a quarter of a league, which was 
the distance between them and us, through a country, as I have 
already said, so full of rocks, mountains, woods, and frightful 
precipices, that our posteriors and knees were of more use to 
us than our legs, it being impossible for us to travel thither 
otherwise. 

On the 14th, by break of day, as we were got over the most 
dangerous parts of this passage, and had already seized upon a 
considerable ascent of the mountain, by clambering up to it in 
great silence, and leaving the Spaniards' entrenchments on the 
left, we saw their party that went the rounds, who, thanks to the 
fogs that are very rife in this country (as I have already said) till 
ten o'clock, did not discover us. As soon as they were gone 
by, we went directly to the place where we saw them, and 
found it to be exactly the road we were minded to seize on. 
When we had made a halt for about half an hour to take 
breath, and that we had a little daylight to facilitate our march, 
we followed this road by the voice of the Spaniards, who were 
at their morning prayers, and we were but just beginning our 
march, when unfortunately we met with two out-sentinels, on 
whom we were forced to fire ; and this gave the Spaniards 
notice, who thought of nothing less than to see us come down 
from above them upon their entrenchment, since they expected 
us from no other way than from below. So that those who had 
the guard thereof, and were in number about five hundred men, 
finding themselves on the outside, when they thought they had 
been within,. and consequently open without any covert, took 
the alarm so hot, that, falling all on upon them at the same 
time, we made them quit the place in a moment, and make 
their escape by the favor of the fog. 

This so much unexpected morning music disturbed the 
whole economy of their designs, and so thwarted their whole 
contrivance, that those of the other two entrenchments drew all 
without the lowermost, where they prepared to defend themselves. 
We fought with them a whole hour from under the covert of 
the first entrenchment which we had got of them, and which 
exactly commanded them, because of its elevated situation upon 
the mountain. But as they gave no ground, we began to think 
that the shot we discharged did not reach them, because of the 
fog which hindered us to discover them, and that we could not 
fire but according to the discharges that came from them ; so 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 451 

that being resolved to lose our aim no longer, we advanced 
and fell directly upon the places from whence they fired. 
There we fought them stoutly, and they did not quit the 
place till such time as they saw the butts of our muskets, and 
that near them, the sight whereof the mist h#d till then taken 
from them. But then, being much terrified, they left us all,' 
and ran that way which was before their entrenchments, which 
proved very incommodious for them, because, that being the 
only place by which they thought we could come at them, they 
had cut down all the trees that .grew there and in the adjacent 
parts as well because they might obstruct their sight in this bot- 
tom, as hinder us to come on under the covert of them. And thus 
the precaution, which they had taken against us, by a quite 
contrary effect was turned upon themselves, insomuch that we 
had so clear a view of them from the entrenchments we had 
taken, that we did execution almost with every piece we shot. 
We pursued them after that for some time, still beating them ;' 
but at length being weary both of running and killing, we re- 
turned to the entrenchments where the five hundred men whom 
we had put to flight at first, being come back, endeavored' to 
break in upon those whom we had left to guard them ; but we 
made them, like the rest, quickly run away. We were also 
fatigued mightily in pursuing of them; for, besides that the 
ground was so extraordinary bad and hard to pass, they also 
augmented the difficulties by making use of the trees which 
they had felled down, to barricade and stop up even the least 
avenue that was near the place round about. 

We found these Spaniards had so little mind to give us 
quarter, if they should have the upper hand of us, that even 
when we took any of them, they would not as much as ask it 
at our hands, and to some of them we gave quarter in spite of 
their teeth, though they did otherwise all that ever they could 
to save themselves out of our hands. But at this no man 
ought to wonder ; for it is a maxim amongst them in these 
parts, and whereof we have had experience upon several occa- 
sions, whether it proceeded from pride or natural fierceness of 
temper, or because of an oath they take before their com- 
mander, before they go to fight, that they will never submit to 
ask quarter of. those to whom they have sworn they would 
give none. But we in the mean time, being affected with com- 
passion upon sight of the great quantity of blood we saw run- 
ning down into the rivulet, spared the rest, and went a second 
time into our entrenchments, having lost all this while but one 
man, and two only wounded. The Spaniards, among others. 
lost their general, who was an old Walloon officer, who had 



452 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

given them the plan of this entrenchment, that would infallibly 
have prevailed against us, had we attacked them by the way 
they expected. In the mean time another old captain had ad- 
vised him to secure their rear, but he saw so little likelihood 
of danger on that side, that he answered, we must be either 
men or devils ; that if we were men, he defied us to get over 
any way in eight days' time ; but if we were devils, though 
he should take never so much care of himself, he must still be 
taken. 

However, at the solicitation of the said officer, he sent a party 
that way to go the rounds, and to post the two sentinels we 
spoke of, as they thought most convenient. The general being 
searched, there were several letters found in his pockets, which 
had been written to him by the governors of the province, that 
set forth particularly the number of men they had sent him ; 
and one among others, from the general of Costa Rica, who 
expressed himself as follows : — 

A Letter written by the General of the Province of Costa Rica 
to the Commander in Chief in the Entrenchments, dated 
January 6, 1668. 

" Sir : — I thought I had made a good choice, when I com- 
mitted to you the conduct, of an affair which ought to reestab- 
lish our reputation, if you have the better of the enemy, as you 
induce me to believe you will. I was preparing to send you 
eight thousand men, if you had not sent me word that fifteen 
hundred was enough. I do not doubt but a person that hath 
served so long as you have done, will take care of your men, 
especially since you have to do with a people from whom there 
will no honor redound to you by overdoing them. 

" According to the relation you have given me of your en- 
trenchments, it is impossible but those people, with the help 
of God, must be destroyed. I advise you to put a thousand 
men into them, and two hundred near unto the river by which 
they hope to get unto the North Sea. In case any of them 
save themselves across the mountains, Don Rodrigo Sarmado, 
the new governor of Tinsigal, ought to be at the head of three 
hundred men, to fall upon the rear as soon as ever they are 
engaged, for certainly their baggage must be there. Take 
good measures, for those devils have a cunning and subtlety that 
is not in use amongst us. 

" When you find them advance within the shot of your 
arquebusses, let not your men fire but by twenties, to the 
end your firing may not be in vain ; and when you find them 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 453 

weakened, raise a shout to frighten them, and fall in with your 
swords, while Don Rodrigo attacks them in the rear. I hope 
God will favor our designs, since they are no other than for his 
glory and the destruction of these new sort of Turks. Hearten 
up your men, though they may have enough of that according 
to your example ; they shall be rewarded in heaven, and if 
they get the better, they will have gold, and silver enough, 
wherewith these thieves are laden." 

After we had sung Te Deum upon the field, of battle, by 
way of thanks unto God for this victory, we mounted sixty 
men on horseback to go and give notice to our other people of 
the success the Almighty was pleased to give us. We found 
them ready to begin another engagement against the three hun- 
dred Spaniards whereof we have spoken ; who as soon as they 
heard that action at the entrenchments begin, and saw how few 
men we had left behind in our camp, were easily induced to 
believe we had made our attack by that disadvantageous way 
I have spoken of, as supposing it impossible for us to do it in 
any other place, and that therefore our ruin must be inevitable ; 
insomuch that instead of entering directly into the place) which 
considering their number, they could have carried in a moment, 
they had so little courage that they contented themselves to send 
an officer to our men that guarded the baggage to parley with 
them, whom they stopped for a time, in expectation of some 
news from us, that so they might return an answer conform- 
able to the intelligence they received. And thus the platform 
I had laid whereon to ground the sufficiency of fourscore of 
our men for that work, or rather the cowardice of the enemy, 
was fully confirmed. 

• They told us that as soon as we had begun the fight, those 
three hundred Spaniards advanced a little, and having got upon 
an eminence that commanded our camp, they alighted and sent 
them the said officer to make the following harangue to them : — 

" I come hither from my general. You say you do not ques- 
tion but you have force enough, and that you are men of cour- 
age, which you have let us know whenever you have been 
minded to make yourselves masters of our country ; yet you 
are not to doubt but the great numbers of men we have got 
together will overpower you. We are to let you understand 
there are a thousand men in that entrenchment against whom 
they are gone to fight, where they are worsted ; that we are 
three hundred men in this place, and that two hundred are 
posted near to the river you go and seek, to wait for those of 
you who escape out of the fight. Wherefore, if you will give 
30 * 



454 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

yourselves up prisoners of war into the power of our general, 
who is a man of honor, we will be friends, and we will let you 
pass to your own country. But as to those of your men whom 
ours have taken alive, their almoner yesterday after prayers 
begged quarter for them, for the honor of the holy sacrament 
and glorious Virgin, which has been promised unto them." 

Our men, hearing him talk at this rate, were already some- 
what alarmed, as fearing what he said was true ; but as soon 
as they saw us come at a distance, they took courage, and re- 
turned him as fierce an answer, like men who had no fear upon 
them, to this purpose : — 

" Though you had had force enough to destroy two thirds of 
our number, we should not fail still to fight Avith the remaining 
part ; yea, though there were but one man of us left, he should 
fight still against you all. 

" When we put ashore and left the South Sea, we all resolved 
to pass through your country or die in the attempt ; and though 
there were as many Spaniards of you as there is grass in this 
savanna, we should not be afraid, b*ut look upon you always in 
our opinion cowards, and we will pass on, and go where we 
will, in spite of your teeth." 

The officer being dismissed upon our arrival, mounted his 
horse to return from whence he came, and observing we were 
booted, and mounted upon his companions' horses who guarded 
the entrenchments, he shrunk up his shoulders by way of 
amazement, and rode as fast as he could to carry the news to 
his own party. As soon as he was got to them, who were not 
above a musket-shot off, we advanced and fell upon them, to 
put them out of condition all at once to follow us any more. 
We received their first firing, to which we made no return oth- 
erwise than with our pistols and cutlasses, and that unhappily 
for them who had not yet got upon their horses ; for we cut a 
great many of them to pieces, insomuch that God crowning all 
the advantages we had had in the rest of our engagements by 
the success we had in this last, we let the rest go, detaining 
only their horses ; and when we had broken all their arms, 
we with our baggage rejoined our main body, who staid still 
upon the place to guard the entrenchments. We had no more 
than one man killed in this engagement, (as it was in the other.) 
and two maimed. 

We asked some of the prisoners whom we had taken sev- 
eral questions, and they told us, among other things, that we 
should still meet with another entrenchment upon the road, 
about six leagues distant from those we quitted, which made 
us fear with very great reason lest the fugitives should go and 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 455 

possess themselves of it, with a design to dispute our passage 
once more. And indeed, we saw fire upon the top of a great 
mountain, which they had made for a signal to gather their 
scattered troops together, and those who out of the fear they 
were in, might perhaps hide themselves for eight days together, 
had it not been for this, as believing us still at their heels. But 
we prevented their design, for we lay two leagues from thence 
to cut off their passage, there being no other way than this by 
which they might get thither, and whose sides were" still less 
accessible the farther you went on, than they were behither the 
same. We had cut the hams of nine hundred of their horses 
before, that so they might be made unfit to pursue us ; we took 
much about the same number of them with us to ease our jour- 
ney, till we came at the river we were in quest of, and to kill 
and salt them upon our arrival, that so thqy might serve us for 
food in that long passage. 

On the 15th we passed by the fore-mentioned entrenchment, 
which was not yet finished, without any resistance, this pro- 
ceeding in all appearance from the terror which the noise of 
our victory had struck into the people, and lay at a hatto 
three leagues beyond it. On the 19th we lay at another, six 
leagues farther ; and at last, on the 17th, which was the six- 
teenth day since our setting out, we came to the so much desired 
river, and presently entered into the woods that grow upon the 
banks thereof, where every one fell to work in good earnest to 
cut down trees to build piperies, wherein we might go down 
the same. 

Some perhaps may think that these were some commodious 
vessels, wherein to carry us with ease down the river ; but there 
was nothing less than that in it. What we called piperies, 
were four or five stocks of one kind of tree, which they called 
niahot ; it is a light, floating sort of wood, which after we have 
taken off the bark, we join and tie together, instead of cords, 
with a sort of lines that grow in these woods and cling like ivy 
unto every thing that is near them, and especially to trees, to the 
height whereof they mount ; and when these pieces are set to- 
gether, they put two or three men upon them, according to the big- 
ness of the pipery, and this is all the equipment we make thereof. 

The surest posture we can find ourselves to be in, is to stand 
upright thereon, though they sink two or three feet under the 
water : and you may judge by what follows, whether the con- 
tinual apprehensions of danger we were in were well or ill 
grounded. 

We built ours no bigger than to hold two men, that so they 
might the more easily pass between those very narrow rocks 



456 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA, 

we foresaw, by those that already presented themselves to our 
view, we must meet with before we got unto the 'sea-side. 
When this pretty Jlota was in a condition to put out, we drag- 
ged it to the river-side, after we had furnished ourselves with 
long poles, to keep us from being driven too violently upon the 
rocks, where we were apprehensive we should be carried by the 
violence of the stream, as it came also frequently to pass. 

This river springs in the mountains of Segovia, and dis- 
charges itself into the North Sea at Cape Gracias a Dios, after 
having run a very long way in a most rapid manner across a 
vast number of rocks of a prodigious bigness, and by the most 
frightful precipices that can be thought of, besides a great many 
falls of water, to the number at least of a hundred of all sorts, 
which it is impossible for a man to look on without trembling, 
and making the head, of the most fearless to turn round, when 
he sees and hears the water fall from such a height into those 
tremendous whirlpools. In short, the whole is so formidable, 
that there are none but those who have some experience can 
have right conceptions of it. But for me, who have passed 
these places, and who, as long as I live, shall have my mind 
filled with those risks I have run, it is impossible I should give 
such an idea hereof, but what will come far short of what I 
have really known of them. 

It was therefore upon this dangerous river that we went 
down, suffering ourselves to be carried along at the will of the 
stream, in these pitiful machines, whereof the greatest part was 
under water, as has been said before, two or three feet, inso- 
much that we were almost always up to the middle therein. 
But this was nothing in comparison of the rapidity of it, which 
many times hurried us, in spite of all the resistance we could 
make, into the publings of foaming water, where we now and 
then found ourselves buried with our pieces of wood, which 
made many of our men tie themselves thereon, as being in 
hopes the wood that floated would bear them up still upon the 
water ; but in this some of them were mistaken. 

But as for those great falls, they had, to our good fortunes, 
at their entrance and goings out, a great basin of still water, 
which gave us the opportunity to get upon the banks of the 
river and draw our piperies ashore, to take off those things we 
had laid on them, which, as wet as we were, we carried with 
us, leaping from rock to rock, till we came to the end of the 
fall, from whence one of us afterwards returned to put our 
pipery into the water, and let her swim along to him who 
waited for her below. But, if he failed to catch hold (by 
swimming) of those pieces of wood, before they got out of the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 457 

basin below, the violence of the stream would carry them away 
to right^ and the men must then be necessitated to go and 
pick out trees to make another. 

We thought at our setting out to go down the water all to- 
gether, to the end that, in case of any accident, one might give 
assistance to the other ; but, at the end of three days, when I 
knew the danger we exposed ourselves to in this way of swim- 
ming together, which had already been the occasion of our losing 
many piperies, I set myself against the design of our continuing 
thus together, by demonstrating to all our men, that, now we had 
no Spaniards in these parts to conflict with, but only the diffi- 
culties of this dangerous river, it was convenient on the con- 
trary to allow every crew of us to advance a little before the 
other, and to keep, as it were, in a line successively ; and so, 
in case the first were carried (as indeed it came to pass) by the 
violence of the stream upon the rocks on the brink of the 
water, whereof the river is full in an infinity of places, they 
might have time at least to get off before the arrival of the 
next pipery, which had already wrought so much disorder by 
the wrecks that had been occasioned by their falling foul on 
one another, that all of us were inmanifest.danger of perishing. 

I afterwards found, as well as several others of our people, 
who had made trial hereof, that this foresight was not useless to 
us ; for my pipery happening to be cast upon such a place, I 
was forced to untie the pieces of wood, and to straddle upon 
one piece, while my companion did the same upon another, 
and so leave ourselves to be carried down in this manner at 
the pleasure of the stream, till it pleased God that we should 
meet with a place, as we did indeed, that was not so rapid, 
where we could go upon the bank of the river, which we could 
not have done, if others had immediately followed us. I also 
advised that those, who went down first, should take care to 
set up in the most dangerous places a flag or banner at the top 
of a long pole, that so we might discern it afar off, not so much 
to give notice to those who were hindermost that there was a 
fall in such a place, for these would make themselves to be 
heard almost a league off, but to signify to them what side they 
were to put to la<ad, which should be that where the flag stood. 
These methods being put in practice, saved the lives of a great 
many men, though, for all these precautions, several were 
also lost. 

The many bananas which we found along the banks of this 

river were almost the only food that kept us from starving ; for, 

our arms being continually wet, and our powder all spoiled, we 

could not possibly go a hunting, though there is very good 

39 



458 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 



game there ; for, as to the horse-flesh which we had salted, we 
were forced to throw it away in two days' time, fo^ it could 
not keep in the water any longer. 

These bananas have partly been planted by the Indians, 
who dwell along the sides of this river, and partly by the over- 
flowing of the waters, which, having dragged them along, and 
then left them dry, took root again, and so have multiplied. 

Some days after we found, when we began to go down the 
river, some carbets of an Indian nation called Albaouins, whom 
we chased to get their victuals ; there are a multitude of others, 
who dwell farther from the brink thereof on the opposite side 
to the former, and those of the one bank have neither war nor 
commerce with those of the other. 

It was in this place that those of our men, who had lost their 
money by gaming, put their cruel design in execution, and 
where I came to know that the warning formerly given me 
was too true. For these wretches, being gone before, went 
and hid themselves behind the rocks that are upon the,brink of 
this river, by which we must necessarily pass. As every man 
endeavored to save himself as well as he could, and that for 
the reasons already given, we went down the river at a dis- 
tance one from another, and without any mistrust, they had 
but too much time and conveniency to pick out and murder 
five Englishmen, whom they knew to be some of the best fur- 
nished with booty, of which these assassins entirely deprived 
them. My companion and I found their bodies upon the river's 
side ; and I must freely confess, that such a spectacle would 
have struck no small terror into me, if I had still been the 
bearer of my winnings ; I bless God with all my heart, that 
inspired me with a design to quit my treasure, being then 
exposed in going down the river, as I was last after the English, 
to the treachery of those villains, where I must infallibly have 
run the same risk as they had done. None of our people 
knew any thing of this murder ; but when we were got all 
together farther down, I told them what I had seen, which 
was fully confirmed, as well by the absence of the dead men 
as by that of the assassins, who durst not come and rejoin us, 
and whom we never saw from thence forward. 

On the 20th of February we found the river larger, and more 
dpacious than before, and met with i:o more falls therein ; but 
the same was so encumbered with trees and bamboes, which 
the floods carried thither, that our wretched machines could not 
be kept from overturning ; but the depth of the water in these 
parts being a means to moderate the rapidness of it, there were 
not many drowned. 



THE BUCCANEERS OP AMERICA. 459 

At last, when we were gone down some leagues farther, we 
found the river very good, the -stream very gentle, and no likeli- 
hood of our meeting any more rocks or trees, though we had still 
above sixty leagues to the sea-side. Wherefore, now finding 
ourselves freed from those perils and dangers which we had 
been exposed to in such^terrible places, where death, in the 
most frightful shape, presented itself continually to our view,' 
every one began to resume fresh courage, and conceive good 
hopes of the remainder of the voyage ; insomuch that, being 
now all of us assembled together in the same place where those 
who had gone before, staid for them that came after, and that 
we had now before us how we should go quite through with 
the rest of our voyages, we agreed to divide ourselves into 
several companies, each consisting of sixty men, to build canoes 
out of mapou wood, which sort of trees grow in great numbers 
upon the banks of the said river. 

Having, with wonderful diligence, finished four canoes by 
the 1st of March, for the use of a hundred and twenty men 
that were of us in one canton, we put them into the water, and 
embarked thereon, without staying ft.r a hundred and forty 
more, who were finishing theirs ; the ardent desire we had to 
be, as soon as possible, satisfied whether we should really be 
able to reach the North Sea, egged us mightily to put on ; for, 
according to the idea we had conceived of our passage, we were 
apprehensive of being carried back into that of the South, as 
not being able to think we could be so happy as to recover the 
sight of a sea, by which we might be carried home to our 
native countries, and which we had for so considerable a time 
longed for. 

The English, who would not make any canoes, had got in 
their piperies before us to the sea-side. Here they met with an 
English boat from Jamaica, at anchor, whom they were very 
forward to press to go and ask leave of the governor of that 
island for their safe coming thither, because they had gone out 
• without any commission; but that vessel being unwilling to go 
thither, without they laid down 6000Z. sterling, by way of ad- 
vance, and they being not in a condition to run the hazard of 
such a sum, because many of them had lost their money, as 
several amongst us had done, which they would have carried 
with them, by the oversetting of the piperies, they staid with 
the Moustic Indians, that dwell some leagues to the windward 
of the mouth of this river, and who are very kind to them, 
because of the trinkets they bring them from Jamaica. 

Thus, that boat proving to be of no use to these English, 
they politicly bethought themselves to send us word hereof, as 



460 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

hoping we, in acknowledgment of this kindness, would obtain 
leave of the governor of St. Domingo for them to retire, and 
be protected in that island. This news we received by two 
Moustic Indians, whom in a boat they, sent to meet us forty 
leagues up the river, and who told us, that there should no more 
than forty men only come down, because that ship could con- 
tain no more by reason of the smallness of it, and its scantiness 
of provision. But for all this, the one hundred and twenty 
that made up one of our companies, went down tbgether, for 
every one pretended to be of the number of the said forty. 

Though this river we are now leaving is by some Spanish 
maps made to run directly eighty leagues, and then to fall into 
the North Sea, yet we have computed the same to run above 
three hundred, being almost always carried to the south-east, 
for to go to the north. 

We happily arrived on the 9th at the mouth of the river, at 
Cape Gracia de Dios, and entered into the sea, which with 
much satisfaction we knew to be that of the north, where we 
were obliged to wait for the English ship that was at the Isles 
of Pearls, which are a dozen leagues distant from that cape to 
the east. Here we staid till the 14th with the mulattoes that 
live in these parts, and who fed us for some days with fish. 

This cape, which stands on the continent, hath been inhab- 
ited for a long time by these mulattoes and negroes, both men 
and women, who have greatly multiplied there since a Spanish 
ship, bound from Guinea, freighted with their fathers, was lost 
by coming too near the shore, which is very dangerous in these 
parts. Now those who had escaped the shipwreck were cour- 
teously received by the Moustic Indians living about this can- 
ton, who were well pleased with the loss of that ship and of 
the Spaniards, their enemies, that were in it. 

Those Indians assigned their new guests a place to grub up, 
where they built themselves cottages in the finest country of 
savannas, that reach along the river from the mouth of it for 
five or six leagues upwards. Here, for their sustenance, they 
plant maize, bananas, and magniots, which the Indians gave 
them ; they also taught them to make a most nourishing sort 
of drink, which they call hoon ; they prepare the same of a 
fruit that is produced on the top of a kind of a palm-tree, which 
grows naturally in these woods, and never exceeds ten feet in 
height. Each of these trees bears no more than one bunch of 
grapes, but most of them are a full load for one man. Its grain 
is of the same form and thickriess as an olive ; some of them 
are yellowish, others reddish, and containing in a very hard 
stone an exceeding oily kernel. They pound the fruit, stone, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 461 

and kernel all together, boiling the same afterwards in water, 
and this makes up the composition. When the same is grown 
cold, or but lukewarm, they put what quantity they are mind- 
ed to drink, into a calabash pierced through with small holes 
like unto a skimmer. This drink, besides that it is very nourish- 
ing, and fattens very much, is also a pleasanter liquor than any 
that is to be met with among the other Indians, the same being 
only peculiar to this nation. 

The mulattoes are all a very tall people, and go altogether 
naked, saving their privy parts, which they cover, nature hav- 
ing provided for them upon that account a kind of grayish 
stuff, which they pull from a tree called .the bastard-palm, the 
top of whose stock is wrapped up in some fathoms of it, from 
the first rising of its branches some feet downwards, according 
to the thickness of each of these trees. This stuff is also a 
great help to them to make coverlets, wherewith to cover them 
in the night ; and some of those people who live more at eaSe, 
wear shirts and drawers, which the English bring them from 
Jamaica. They are the boldest people in the world for expos- 
sing themselves to the perils of the sea, and undoubtedly the 
most expert in the art of fishing. They will commit them- 
selves to the waves in these little boats, or such like, which an 
able seaman will scarce venture to do ; and here they will stay 
for three or four days together, being no more concerned, let 
the weather be what it will, than if they were made of the 
same piece as their boat ; and provided they can but once set 
sight on the fish, though swimming never so low in the water, 
they will not fail to take him, so dexterous are they at this work. 

They many times do our freebooters a kindness, when they 
take them on board with them, upon condition of letting them 
have a share of what booty is got, which must be exactly per- 
formed unto them. For if you once deceive them, you must 
no longer expect their assistance ; and this temper is peculiar 
almost to all the Indian nations in these parts, that they will 
never go again when once you have broke your word with 
them. 

The ancient Moustics, who gave these men I have spoken 
of, entertainment, live about ten or twelve leagues to the wind- 
ward of Cape Gracia a Dios, in those places they call Sambay 
and Sanibey. They are very slothful, and neither plant nor 
sow but very little, and lie all day on their amacks, which are 
a kind of moving beds in their ajoupas or barracks, while their 
wives wait upon them in every thing as far as they can serve 
them ; and when they are pressed with hunger, they go a fish- 
ing in their boats, at which they also are very skilful, and when 
39* 



462 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

they have taken any, they eat them, and go not out any more, 
till hunger returns upon them again. 

As for their clothing, it is neither larger nor more sumptuous 
than that of the mnlattoes at the cape. There are but a few 
amongst them that have a fixed abode, most of them being vag 
abonds, and wandering along the river side, and having no othet 
house to shelter themselves in but a latanier leaf, which they 
manage so, that when the wind drives the rain on Jhe one side, 
they turn their leaf against it, behind which they lie, and this 
skreens them against the weather. When they are inclined to 
sleep, they dig a hole in the sand, where they lie and then cover 
themselves therewith ; and this they do to keep themselves 
from the stinging of the moustics, wherewith the air is generally 
very full. They are little flies, that are sooner felt than seen, 
and have so sharp and venomous a sting, that where they 
alight, they seem to have fiery darts wherewith to prick men. 
Ttiese poor people are so tormented with those mischievous 
insects, when they see them not, that their bodies appear like 
lepers, and I can assure it for truth, as knowing the same by 
my own knowledge, that it is no small pain to be attacked with, 
them ; for besides that they caused us to lose our rest in the 
night, it was then that we were forced to go naked for want of 
shirts, when the troublesomeness of these animals made us run 
into despair, and such a rage as set us beside ourselves. 

When these Indians go a journey, though ever so short, they 
take their wives, children, dogs, and fawns, which they breed 
tame, all along with them. It is a custom I have observed to 
be held among all the Indian nations on the terra Jirma of 
America ; and these I speak of live as brutishly "as any of the 
rest, yet they are not so cruel and savage, because of the soci- 
ety they have with the English, who have no other aim than 
to endeavor to bring them under, and master their country, 
where they have a great many habitations already. 

On the 14th the vessel, which I said was gone to the Isles 
of Pearls, arrived at the place where we were, and came scarce 
to an anchor, but we all crowded to go on board, because we 
were to draw lots who should embark ; but about fifty of us, 
for all that, being more vigilant than the rest, made a shift to 
enter her ; who thinkiyg it unadvisable to go ashore again, to 
commit to chance a thing we were already in possession of, and 
for to prevent a greater number from entering in, we being al- 
ready piled as it were on the top of one another, we weighed 
anchor and departed. 

The master would have carried us to Jamaica; but we, not 
knowing how matters stood between France and England, 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 463 

• 

whether it were peace or war, engaged him to carry us to St. 
Domingo, for forty pieces of eight a head. We went to take 
in water at the Isle of Pearls, and on the 16th left the same. 
On the L7th we doubled the island of Catalina or Providence, 
as the English call it, where the Spaniards had formerly a very 
fine fort and small town, which were taken by the French 
and English, under the colors of the last. On the 18th we 
. went to cross the channel, though it blew a strong easterly 
breeze. Oft the 24th we came to land at Los Jardinos, which 
are a great many small islands near unto that of Cuba. And 
on the 29th we took in water at "Port Portilla, (in the Isle of 
Cuba,) which is not inhabited. On the, 30th we anchored to 
• the S. S. E. of the borough of Baracoa, in the same island, 
where we surprised the hunters belonging to that place, whom 
we obliged to sell us the victuals they had took, by giving them 
their own price for it. But this our liberality towards them 
proceeded from another cause, and that was, that we were un- 
certain whether our nation was at peace or war with the Span- 
iards, since we had no intelligence here, or from any French 
country, how things went with them. 

On the 6th of April, we touched at Nippas, which is a small 
borough on the coast, seven leagues distant from Petit Guavis, 
that so we might hear some news of our own country, while 
we rode at anchor there. There were some of our people so 
infatuated with the long miseries we had suffered, that they 
thought of nothing else but the Spaniards, insomuch that when 
from the deck they saw some horsemen riding along the sea- 
side, they flew to their arms to fire upon them, as imagining they 
were enemies, though we assured them we were now come 
among those of our own nation. We left this port on the 4th, 
and went to anchor in the port of Petit Guavis, from whence 
we had departed almost four years before ; and before we came 
near the fort, I went to Monsieur Dumas, the king's lieutenant, 
to require him to grant us protection and indemnity in the Gov- 
ernor Monsieur de Cassy's absence, by virtue of an amnesty 
the king had been pleased to send to those that made war upon 
the Spaniards since the peace, which being concluded on since 
our departure, it was impossible we should come to know it in 
such remote places, and where we were thought to have been 
entirely destroyed. * 

Lastly, when we were got all ashore to a people that spoke 
French, we could not forbear shedding tears for joy, that after 
we had run so many hazards, dangers and perils, it had pleased 
the Almighty Maker of the earth and seas to grant a deliver- 
ance, and bring us back to those of our own nation, that at 



464 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

length we may return without any more ado to our own coun- 
try ; whereunto I cannot but further add, that for my own part 
I had so little hopes of ever getting back, that I could not, for 
the space of fifteen days, take my return for any other than an 
illusion ; and it proceeded so far with me, that I shunned sleep 
for fear, when I awaked, I should find myself again in those 
countries out of which I was now safely delivered. 



CHAPTER LVII. 

A Relation of a Voyage made by the Sieur De Montauban,* Captain of the 
Freebooters on the Coast of Guinea, in the Year 1695. With a Description 
of the Kingdom of Cape Lopez, the Manners, Customs, and Religion of the 
Country. 

Since I have so often felt the malignant influences of those 
stars that preside over the seas, and by an adverse fortune lost 
all that wealth which with so much care and trouble I had 
amassed together, I should take no manner of pleasure in this 
place to call to mind the misfortunes that befel me before the 
conclusion of the last campaign, had not a desire of serving still 
both the public and particular persons, as well as to let his 
majesty know the affection and weddedness I have always had 
for his service, made me take pen in hand to give M. de Pheli- 



* A Letter to Monsieur 



"Sir: — A relation of the voyage made by Captain Montauband, commonly called 
Montauban, is at last come to my hands, and I have sent you the same in print. There 
is no doubt, but you will admire, as well as I, how much his prudence and courage 
have been instrumental to deliver him from many unhappy accidents, where another 
must have infallibly perished. You will remember, as soon as you begin to read, to 
have seen some of his men at Bourdeaux, in the year 1694 ; from thence it was he 
departed the following year to undertake the voyage you are here presented with. He 
gave chase to several ships he met with in his way ; he fought with a frigate carrying 
thirty-four guns, at Cape Verde ; he met with an English ship of twenty guns, at 
Cape St. John, which he took after a short fight; after which he took a Brandenburgh 
caper, and sailed away for Angola. Near the shore he met with an English guard- 
ship, being a frigate carrying fifty-four pieces of cannon. This ship he fought for five 
or six hours, and both of them very bravely boarded one another; and as he was about 
to make himself master of the said ship, the English captain se-t fire to his powder, 
and so both the ships blew up into the air with a terrible crack. 

"You will have the pleasure to contemplate, in the perusal of this book, as if you 
stood upon the sea-side, this tremendous shipwreck; as also see how the Sieur de 
Montauban, together with fifteen or sixteen of his men, were saved. He suffered 
hunger for above three days together, and at last arrived at Cape Lopez, from whence 
he went to visit the king of that country, of whose court and kingdom he has given 
us here a description. He speaks also of his reception, and advances a project how 
to settle the Roman Catholic faith in those parts. He stood for surety at the bap 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 465 

peaux an account of such observations as I have made ; where- 
in he may also find with what eagerness I have penetrated to 
the remotest colonies of our enemies, in order to destroy them 
and ruin their trade. 

I was not willing to swell up this relation with an account 
of all the voyages I have made, and all the particular adven- 
tures that have befallen me on the coasts of New Spain, Car- 
thagena, Mexico, Florida, and Cape Verde, which last place I 
had been at twenty years ago, having begun to use the seas at 
the age of sixteen. • 

I could also have added hereunto the campaign I have made 
in 1691, when, being commander of the ship called the Machine, 
I ravaged the coasts of Guinea, entered into the great Serelion, 
and took a fort from the English, where they had four and 
twenty pieces of cannon, which I caused to be split, that they 
might be of no further use unto them. 

But I am desirous to confine myself to give an account of 
my last voyage, because it is the nearest, and that which is yet 
fresh in the memory of the public ; notice and some informa- 
tion having been given thereof by the noise made in France 
and elsewhere of the burning of my ship, and the terrible 
crack it made in the air. 

In the year 1694, after I had ravaged the coast of Caracca, 
I went up to the windward towards St. Croix, where I under- 
stood that there were some merchant ships, with a convoy, to 
come from Barbadoes and Nevis, and bound for England ; and 
upon the same information I resolved to sail up to the height 
of the Bermudas, hoping to take this small fleet, and so to make 



tizing of a son of Prince Thomas, the aforesaid king's son. He went on board a Por- 
tuguese ship, in order to his passage to Europe. An Englishman, that was his friend, 
took him aboard his vessel, and carried him to Barbadoes, where he was confined to 
his chamber by Colonel Russel, who was governor of those islands. He was freed 
from thence, and went to Martinico, where he saw M. de Frontenac, general of the 
French islands. From thence he got into France, being very uncertain whether he 
shall return to sea again. But, sir, all these adventures are set forth in so natural 
and easy a style, that you cannot but infallibly observe the sincerity and generosity of 
the author. It is true, our seafaring men are not so polite as those who live on 
shore; and that proceeds from want of society and conversation. But to make 
amends for that, they are a hundred fold more sincere than the other. And thus, sir, 
do not think a seafaring man will impose upon you. For myself, I have several 
times heard Montauban, in person, give a relation of this same voyage, but I could 
never observe that he varied in any one thing at any time; and the free and generous 
air wherewith he delivered those brave actions he has performed in fight, would per- 
suade you of the truth of what he hath related. It is not for any ostentation that 
he has written this account ; he has in the very beginning thereof declared openly 
enough, that he had no other end in doing it, than to give a minister of state an ac- 
count (as he calls it) of his campaign. In short, if you are dubious in respect to the 
fight where the Sieurde Montauban was shipwrecked, you may recollect yourself, and 
find you have read the same in the gazettes of September and October this pres- 
ent year. 

I am, Sir, your most humble, and most obedient servant, 

B ." 



466 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

a good booty of it. I was scarce 'got thither, but that I saw 
them appear, and sailing directly towards me, without any 
apprehensions of danger upon them. But I presently attacked 
their convoy, called the Wolf, and took her, with two more of 
the merchant ships laden with sugar, the rest having made their 
escape during the fight. As I was carrying my prize into. 
France, I met with another English ship of sixteen guns com- 
ing from Spain, and bound also for England, that after a short 
fight struck, and which I carried to Rochelle, where the admi- 
ralty judged the same" to be good prize. When I had sold this 
ship, I carried my three other vessels to Bourdeaux, where I 
arrived in September, 1694; and these last being also con- 
demned as good prizes, I made it my business presently to find 
out merchants that would buy them. 

In the mean time, my freebooters, who had not seen France 
for a long time, finding themselves now in a great city where 
pleasure and plenty reigned, were not backward to refresh them- 
selves after the fatigues they had endured, while so long absent 
from their native country. They spent a world of money here, 
and proved horribly extravagant. The merchants and their 
hosts made no scruple to advance them money, or lend them 
as much as they pleased, upon the reputation of their wealth, 
and the noise there was throughout the city of the valua- 
ble prizes whereof they had a share. All the nights they 
spent in such divertisements as pleased them best, and the 
days in running up and down the town in masquerade, causing 
themselves to be carried in chairs, with lighted flambeaux at 
noon-day, of which debauches some died, while four of my 
crew fairly deserted me. So that now, seeing I lost my men, 
notwithstanding all the care I had taken, and strict injunctions 
I had laid upon them, I thought it advisable for me to be 
gone from thence as soon as I could, that I might keep the 
rest together. 

In the first place I supplied the room of those whom I had 
lost with as many Bourdeaux young men. who in a short time 
became as expert as the old ones ; for you are to observe, I 
made it my continual care and business to teach my men to 
shoot ; and my so frequent exercising them rendered them in 
a short time as capable of shooting and handling their arms as 
the oldest sea freebooters, or the best fowlers by land. 

When I had revictualled my ship, that carried no more than 
thirty-four pieces of cannon, I left Bourdeaux in the month of 
February. 1695, with an intention to go and cruise on the 
coast of Guinea, in Africa. I got up to the Azores, which are 
thirty-seven degrees north latitude, and cruised thereabouts for 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 467 

the space of eight days without any purchase. From thence 
I passed to the Canary Islands, which are in twenty-five degrees 
north latitude. We discovered the Peak of Teneriffe a great 
way off, which they say is the highest mountain in the world. 
They report these mountains had their names from dogs, which 
the Latins call ca?ies, and which the Portuguese found here 
in great numbers upon their first arrival. I cruised round about 
them for fourteen days, in expectation of meeting with some 
Dutch ships which I was informed were to come that way, and 
it proved to be really so ; for the said ships came thither, but 
they got into the port before I could reach them ; and this 
made me sail away for the White Cape and the Isles of Cape 
Verde, that are between fourteen and eighteen degrees north 
latitude. Upon my arrival there, I found two English ships 
lying at anchor in the road of the Isle of May, which made 
me put out my shallop to know what they were, and the same 
informed me that they were two interlopers, carrying about 
thirty guns each. I resolved to board and take them ; to this 
end I lay by to come nearer them ; but as we bore upon one 
of the points of this island, these ships did not think fit to tarry 
for my coming up ; but smelling my design, they made all 
ready, and left their cables and anchors in the road at which 
their shallops lay. 

I pursued them all day ; but night coming on, I lost sight of 
them, and returned to the road from whence they were gone, 
in order to take away the cables and anchors, and to sink the 
shallops fastened by them. When I had so done, I sailed away 
for the Isle of St. Vincent, to calk my vessel in that place, 
and to take in water and wood. This island also is one of 
those of Cape Verde. Here I staid for the space of eight days, 
at the end whereof, understanding by a Portuguese bark that 
there were two English ships, carrying from twenty to thirty 
guns, at the Isle of Fuego, one of which was refitting there, 
because of a fight she had been engaged in with some other 
ships, I presently weighed anchor, and sailed away for the said 
island, which is not far distant from that of St. Vincent, being 
in hopes to meet with the enemy in that place. But upon 
my arrival, I understood by a Portuguese, that they were gone 
away four or five days before, in the night, without saying 
nny thing of the place whither they were bound, from the said 
Island of Fuego, or Fire Island. I thereupon steered my course 
for the coast of Guinea, and first discovered the Cape of Three 
Points, where I met with the guard-ship, which was a Dutch 
frigate, carrying thirty-four guns, and cruised out at sea. She 
quickly discovered me, and made directly towards me, in order 



468 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

to know what I was. As I had also on my part perceived her, 
and was in hopes to come close and fight her, I hung up Dutch 
colors, that I might not frighten her away, but give her an op- 
portunity to come up within cannon-shot of me. When I saw 
her near enough, I put up French colors, and gave her a signal 
to strike ; but instead thereof, she, without any more ado, very 
bravely gave me a broadside, and at the same time received" 
one from me. We continued to fight one another in this man- 
ner from morning till four in the afternoon, without my being 
able to get the weather-gage, or come up near enough unto 
her to make use to any- purpose of my fusils, which are the 
chief arms in such ships as ours be ; nor to hinder her, by the 
favor of the wind which she had of me, to go and anchor 
under the port of the Cape of Three Points, where there were 
two Dutch ships more fitted out for men-of-war, one whereof 
carried fourteen, and the other twenty-eight pieces of cannon. 
I presently thought these three ships had joined together, in 
order to come out and fight me, which made me lie by there- 
abouts for a whole day, in expectation of them. I anchored 
also within a league of the shore, hoping at length that they 
being spighted at my insulting them in this manner, would be 
eager for revenge. But all this to no purpose, and in all appear- 
ance the guard-ship had already found herself so ill-treated that 
she had no occasion for a second 'fight. A small Portuguese 
ship, that passed by soon after, told me these ships were the 
same that had forced the Sieur Rey, captain of the king's flute 
called the Deep, to leave that coast ; which also was confirmed 
afterwards unto me by the Sieur Rey himself, at the Prince's 
Island, where I met him. 

Seeing therefore that the enemy would not fight, and con- 
sidering with myself it was not advisable for me to attack them 
under the cannon of the fort, I resolved to go to Cape Lopez, 
and to Prince's and St. Thomas' Isles. In my passage I dis- 
covered Cape St. John, that stands on the continent of Guinea, 
as well as the Cape of Three Points, and I happened to meet with 
an English ship of twenty guns, and that had three hundred 
and fifty negroes, elephants' teeth, and wax on board it, which 
did not cost me much pains to take her. The captain told me 
he was come from Ardra, where he had taken five hundred and 
fifty negroes on board, but that they had slain some of them, 
because they had mutinied against his ship's crew ; and that 
some more of them had made their escape to land in his shallop, 
which they secretly stole from him. Ardra is one of the prin- 
cipal towns in Guinea, standing upon the sea-side, and the usual 
residence of a prince who governs a great country in this part 
of the world. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 469 

From thence I went to Prince's Islej in sight whereof I took 
a small Brandenburgh caper, mounted with eight pieces of can- 
non, and carrying sixty men. She cruised about this latitude, 
and took all the barks she could light on, without distinction 
of nation or colors. When I had done this, I went into the 
port, in order to clean my ship, which was foul enough ; and 
that I might clear myself of the English prize I had taken, I 
sent her away to St. Domingo in America, to have the same 
condemned, under the command of the Sieur de Nave, and a 
sufficient number of men in her, whom 1 picked out of my 
own crew. But some time after, I understood she was taken 
by some English men-of-war that were before Little Goara. 

In the mean time, that my men might not b,e idle, 1 gave my 
officers orders to have my ship careened, while I myself with 
the Brandenburgh caper which I had taken, and ninety men 
whom I had put on board her, went out to cruise, and contin- 
ued at it for six weeks, upon the coast of Guinea, or about the 
Prince's and St. Omer's Islands, without meeting any enemy. 
Whereupon I returned back into the road of the first of these 
isles, where I revictualled my ship as soon as possibly I could; 
and when all things were ready, I weighed anchor, and sailed 
directly for the Isle of St. Thomas, there either to sell, or truck 
the caper I had taken; which last I chose to do for some pro- 
visions, because I had not enough to go and cruise long upon 
the coasts of Angola, whither I had resolved to go and spend 
five or six months, in order to avoid the English ships they 
were fitting out at the same town of Guinea, which consisted 
of three men-of-war and a fire-ship, and were designed to go 
in quest of me, cruising about St. Thomas, where they thought 
I should continue. 

As I left St. Thomas, I saw a ship at anchor. I sailed to- 
wards her, and gave her chase a long time ; but I could not 
prevent her getting to land at the Isle of St. Omer, and staving 
to pieces. In striving to take her, I lost a hundred and fifty 
pounds of gold dust, which this Dutch interloper had got in 
trading on this coast. 

This being over, I sailed for the coasts of Angola, which is 
two hundred and fifty leagues on the other side of the line. 
There I arrived on the 22d of September, and understood, 
when I came within three leagues of the port of Cabinda, that 
there were two English ships with negroes on board in that 
place. As I was to leeward of tfyat port, I bore out to sea, in 
hopes next day to have a south-west wind, that usually blows 
from the seaward, to help to recover the port. When day ap- 
peared, I saw a ship under English colors bearing upon me, 
40 



470 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 




THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 471 

whom I presently did not take to be a man-of-war. But some 
time after, I discovered she carried no less than four and fifty 
guns. I used all the art I could to amuse her; and for that 
end I hung out Dutch colors, that I might also the more easily 
come near her ; while she on her part was not backward to 
amuse me, and by the guns she fired from time to time, to 
assure me of her friendship, endeavored to come up with me. 
When I perceived my enemy's design, I took upon me to make 
a show of waiting for him, and sailed but very slowly, that I 
might make him believe my ship was heavy laden, or that I 
was encumbered for want of sails and hands. We kept in this 
manner from break of day till ten in the forenoon. He gave me 
a gun from time to time without ball, to assure me what he was, 
and as he supposed, my friend; but finding at last I did not 
answer him on my part in the same manner, and that we were 
now within cannon-shot of one another, he gave me one again 
with ball, which made me presently put up French colors, and 
answer him with another. Hereupon the English captain, 
without any more ado, gave me two broadsides, which I re- 
ceived without returning him one again, though he had killed 
me seven men ; for I was in hopes, if I could have got some- 
thing nearer to him, to put him out of condition ever to get 
away from me. I endeavored to come within a fusil shot of 
him, and was desirous to give him an opportunity to show his 
courage in boarding me, since I could not so well do the same 
by him, as being to the leeward. At last, being come by de- 
grees nearer, and finding him within the reach of my fusils, 
which for that end I kept concealed upon the deck from his 
sight, they were discharged upon him, and my men continued 
to make so great a fire with them, that the enemy on their part 
began quickly to flag. 

In the mean time, as their ship's crew consisted of above 
three hundred men, and that they saw their cannon could not 
do their work for them, they resolved to board us, which they 
did with a great shout and terrible threatenings of giving no 
quarter, if we did not surrender. Their grappling irons failing 
to catch the stern of my ship, made theirs run in such a man- 
ner, that their stern run upon my bowsprit and broke it. Hav- 
ing observed my enemy thus encumbered, my men plied them 
briskly with their small shot, and made so terrible a fire upon 
them for an hour and a half, that being unable to resist any 
longer, and having lost a great many men, they left the sport, 
and ran down between decks, and I saw them presently after 
make signals with their hats of crying out for quarter. I 
caused my men therefore to give over their firing, and com- 



472 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

manded the English to embark in their shallops, and come on 
board of me, while I made some of my crew at the same time 
leap into the enemy's ship, and seize her, and so prevent any 
surprise from them. 1 already rejoiced within myself for the 
taking of such a considerable prize ; and so much the more, 
in that I hoped, that after having taken this vessel that was the 
guard-ship of Angola, and the largest the English had in those 
seas, I should find myself in a condition to take still better 
prizes, and attack any man-of-war I should meet with. My 
ship's crew were also as joyful as myself, and did the work thry 
were engaged in with a great deal of pleasure ; but the enemy's 
powder suddenly taking fire, by the means of a. match the 
captain had left burning on purpose, as hoping he might escape 
with his two shallops, blew both the ships into the air, and 
made the most horrible crack that was ever heard. It is 
impossible to set forth this horrid spectacle to the life ; the spec- 
tators themselves were the actors of this bloody scene, not 
knowing whether they saw it or not, and not being able to 
judge of that which themselves felt. Wherefore leaving the 
reader to imagine the horror which the blowing up of two ships 
above two hundred fathoms into the air must work in us, where 
there was* formed, as it were, a mountain of water, fire, wreck 
of the ships, cordages, cannon, men, with a most terrible clap 
made, what with the cannon that went off in the air, and the 
waves of the sea that were tossed up thither ; to which we 
may add the cracking of masts and boards, the rending of the 
sails and ropes, the cries of men, and the breaking of bones ; 
I say, leaving these things to the imagination of the reader, T 
shall only take notice of what befell myself, and by what good 
fortune it was that I escaped. 

When the fire first begun, I was upon the fore deck of my 
own ship, where I gave the necessary orders. Now I was car- 
ried upon part of the said deck so high, that I fancy it was the 
height alone that prevented my being involved in the wreck of 
the ships, where I must have infallibly perished, and been cut 
into a thousand pieces. I fell back into the sea (you may be 
sure,) giddy-headed enough, and continued a long time under 
water without being able to get up to the surface of it ; at last, 
falling into a debate with the water, as a person who was afraid 
of being drowned, I got upon the fa.;e of it, and laid hold of a 
broken piece of a mast that I found near me. I called to some 
of my men whom I saw swimming round about me, and ex- 
horted them to take courage, hoping we might yet save our 
lives if we could light upon any one of our shallops. But 
what yet afflicted me more than my very misfortune was, to see 



, THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 473 

two half bodies who had still somewhat of life remaining in 
them, from time to time mount up to the face of the water, 
and leave the place where they appeared all dyed with blood. 
It was also much the same thing, to see round about me a vast 
number of members and scattered parts of men's bodies, and 
. most of them spitted upon splinters of wood. At last, one of 
my men, having met with a whole shallop, among all the wreck 
that swam up and down upon the water, came to tell me that 
we must endeavor to stop some holes therein, and to take out 
the canoe that lay on board her. We got to the number of 
fifteen or sixteen of us who had escaped, near unto this shal- 
lop, every man upon his piece of wood, and took the pains to 
loosen our canoe, which at length we effected. We went all 
on board her, and after we had got in, saved our chief gunner, 
who in the fight had had his leg broke. We took up three or 
four oars, or pieces of boards which served us for that purpose ; 
dnd when we had done that, we sought out for somewhat to 
make us a sail and a little mast ; and having fitted up all things 
as well as possibly we could, we committed ourselves to the 
Divine Providence, who alone could give us life and deliverance. 
As soon as I had done working, I found myself all over be- 
smeared with blood, that -ran from a wound I had received in 
my head at the time of my fall. We made some lint out of 
my handkerchief, and a fillet to bind it withal out of my shirt, 
after I had first washed the wound with urine. The same 
thing was done to the rest that had beeti wounded, and oui 
shallop in the mean while sailed along, without making land, 
or our knowing where we were going. And what was still 
more sad, was, that we had no victuals, and we had already 
spent three days without either eating or drinking. One of 
our men, being greatly afflicted with hunger and thirst at the 
same time, drank so much salt water that he died of it. Most 
of our men vomited continually, whether it were that they 
were incommoded with the water that got into them when 
they fell into the sea, as it will happen if they drink of it out of 
mere necessity. As for myself, I was incommoded for a long 
time. I afterwards swelled up mightily, and my excrements 
came from me in the form of small buttons ; and I attribute to 
a quartan ague, that seized on me soon after, the cure of my 
dropsy, and recovery of my health that by degrees returned to 
me. I make no enumeration of the other inconveniences 
which so dangerous a fall brought upon me, such being un- 
avoidable to a man that fell into so great a fire. All my hair, 
face, and one side of me, were burnt with the powder ; and 
the same fate attended me as usually does bombardiers at sea, 
40* 



474 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

and that was to bleed at the nose, ears, and mouth. I do not 
know whether this be the effect of the powder or no, by swell- 
ing up those vessels which contain the blood in our bodies to 
such an extraordinary degree, that the ends of the veins open 
and let it out ; or that the great noise and violent motion that 
is wrought in those organs make the same happen. But let 
it come which way it will, since there is no room here for 
a consultation of physicians, as long as we were dying of hun- 
ger, nor to inquire what became of the English, when we 
had so much difficulty, and could hardly save ourselves, we 
continued our course up the current with the help of our oars, 
because we knew the same came from the port of Cabindas. 
But as the wind was against us, we could never get thither, 
and were forced to be satisfied to get to the Cape of Corsa if 
we could, which stands a dozen leagues from that of Cathersna, 
where we could not land, because of a bar that renders the 
coast inaccessible. That was our design, but hunger hindered 
us to put the same in execution, and we were forced even to 
overcome the obstacles which nature laid in our way, by run- 
ning ashore in spite of the bar. This we performed at last, 
(after much difficulty,) being in hopes to find there some negroes 
that might furnish us with victuals. One of our company 
presently landed, in order to go and seek out somewhat to sat- 
isfy our hunger, and by good fortune found in a pond, stick- 
ing to the branches of trees, some oysters, whereof he gave us 
presently notice. We went all up to the very pond along a 
channel of the sea, where we were no sooner come, but we eat 
lustily of the oysters with a very good appetite. We opened 
them with a few knives we found in our pockets, lending the 
same from one to another very charitably and readily. When 
we had spent two days in that place, I divided my men into three 
small companies, and sent them up into the country to seek for 
victuals and houses, with orders. to return again in the evening 
to the shallop. I went out myself also as the rest did ; but we 
could find neither any houses, nor the least sign of any men in 
those parts. All that we could see were great herds of buf- 
flers, as large as oxen, who fled so fast from us, that we could 
not possibly come near them. Wherefore having spent all the 
day in this manner, and got nothing, we returned to our shal- 
lop to eat oysters again, and resolved next day to leave this 
place, and go to Cape Corsa, to the leeward of which there is 
a large port, where ships that sail that way put in to furnish 
themselves with water and wood. The negroes that live in 
the country having notice of the coming in of ships by firing 
of cannon, come, thither also with provisions, and barter the 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 475 

same for brandy, knives and hatchets. They are forced to live 
remote from the sea, because all the coast is very marshy. As 
soon as we were got to the said cape, we heard a great noise made 
by the negroes who came thither to sell wood to the ships that 
lay at anchor in the port. I looked amongst them to see if I 
could find any one whom I knew, for as they had often brought 
me some wood, and other refreshments in the course of my 
former voyages, I was in hopes to find some or other that 
would know me again. But though I knew several of them, 
it was impossible for me to persuade any of them that I was Cap- 
tain Montauban, so much was I disfigured with my late misfor- 
tune ; and all of them took me for a man that would impose the 
belief of it upon them. I thought fit to tell them hrtheir own 
language, whereof I understood a little, that I was ready to die 
with famine, and prayed them to give me somewhat to eat ; 
but it signified nothing. So I desired them to carry me to 
Prince Thomas, who is son to the king of that country, as 
hoping he might call to mind the favors I had formerly 
showed him. 

I carried all my company with me to that prince. We were 
first brought to the dwellings of those negroes, where the}" 
began to be a little more tractable, and gave # us some bananas 
to eat, which are a sort of figs longer than a man's hand. 
Next day we gpt to the prince's habitation ; but I was in so 
pitiful a condition, that I could never, by the signs I gave, 
make him know me, though I spoke to him in his own lan- 
guage, as also in the Portuguese tongue, which he understood 
very well. It fortuned one day, that going to bathe ourselves, 
he saw a scar upon my thigh, that was the effect of a wound I 
had received with a musket-ball. He told me that he must 
immediately know whether I was Captain Montauban or no ; 
and that if I were not the man, he would cut off my head. 
He asked if ever I had a scar with a musket-shot upon my 
thigh, which when I showed him, he presently embraced me, 
and said he was exceeding sorry to see me in that condition, 
and immediately caused victuals to be distributed among my 
men, and divided them into several habitations, with strict 
orders to the negroes, with whom they were quartered, to take 
the greatest care they could of them. As for me, he kept me 
with himself, and made me always eat at his own table. When 
I was a little brought into order, he said he would carry me to 
see the king his father, who lived five or six leagues off, that is 
about ten or a dozen from the sea-side. I let him know how 
great the favor and honor was he did me, and prayed him at 
the same time that I might have the liberty to let myfreeboot- 



476 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

ers go along with me, and grant us some pieces of stuffs to put 
ourselves in as good equipage as we could, in order to appear 
before so great a prince ; all which he allowed me, and three 
days after, we went all together in a great canoe, and passed by 
the River of Cape Lopez, because the country is so full of 
marshes that you cannot go by land. 

Being arrived at the king's habitation, which is a village 
consisting of three hundred booths, covered with palm-leaves, 
wherein the king keeps his wives, family, relations, and some 
other negro families, whom he loves best, I was lodged in Prince 
Thomas's house, and all my men were distributed into other 
habitations. We found all the people in great lamentation, 
because the chief of their religion, whom they call papa, had 
died that day, when they were to begin the funeral obsequies, 
which were usually to last for seven days for priests of that 
quality. This same person was had in great esteem and ven- 
eration by all the people, they looking upon him to be a holy 
man. As the king is in mourning, and sees nobody all the 
while that this funeral ceremony lasts, Prince Thomas bid me 
have patience, and not to go out of my lodgings for to see the 
king, because that was the custom of his nation. 

However, I could not forbear going to see the funeral solem- 
nity, where I saw nothing else but a great concourse of people 
standing round the dead corpse. I was in the mean time very 
well fed by Prince Thomas's orders, who was gone to see his 
father. They did not let me want bananas, elephant's flesh, 
and river fish, though all of it came without either bread or 
wine, as you may well suppose. My men were treated in 
the same manner in their respective quarters all the time we 
staid there. 

At the eight days' end, Prince Thomas came, in order to 
carry us before the king. He is a large negro, well enough 
made, and about fifty years old, who to do me the greater hon- 
or, according to the relation given of me to him by his son, 
came out of his house to receive me, and advanced some steps 
to meet me. He was supported by four or five women, which 
gave him a kind of an air of grandeur in a very cumbersome 
and fantastic manner. He was guarded by several negroes, 
who were armed with lances and fusils, which they discharged 
from time to time with no great order. There were several 
trumpets and drums "marched before him, at the head of which 
company there were several standards carried, alike in color to 
those used in Holland. He had no other clothes than a piece 
of cotton stuff, streaked with white and blue, wherewith part 
of his body was covered, the same being several tunes folded 
round about him. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 477 

Ho gave me many demonstrations of his friendship ; he also 
stretched out his hand to me, saying it was the first time he 
had ever done so to any man before me. Being come to his 
house, he sat at his door, and made me take place on the one 
side of him, as his son did on the other. He asked me sev- 
eral questions concerning the greatness and power of the king 
my master ; and when I had told him that he alone waged war 
against the English and the Dutch, whom himself knew, as 
having seen them often at the Cape of Lopez ; that lie also 
warred against the Germans and Spaniards, who were more 
potent nations than the English and Dutch ; he also told me 
he was pleased with my account, and that he would drink the 
king of France's health. Presently they brought him up some 
palm wine, which is not unpleasant to drink, and his wives 
served him in a great crystal glass. As soon as he began to 
take the glass, the negro men and women lifted up their right 
arm, and held the same in that posture very silently till he had 
done drinking. But when it was over, they made a great noise 
with their trumpets and drums, and discharged all their mus- 
kets, or I should rather have said fusils. 

Prince Thomas then asked me, what was the king of France's 
name, and having told him, Lewis le Grand,, he said he had a 
mind I should hold a child of his, of about seven or eight 
months old to baptism, and that I should give him the name 
of Lewis le Grand, which made me smile a little at the humor. 
He told me also, that the first voyage I should make into his 
country, he would give me the child to carry to France for a 
present to the king, to whose service he devoted him, being 
very desirous he should be brought up according to the custom 
of the country and court of so great a prince. I also promised 
on my part, that the first time I came to the coast of Guinea, 
I should not fail to come and put him in mind of his promise, 
that so, upon my return into France, I might be capable of 
making the greatest present that could be unto the king, in 
presenting him with the son of Prince Thomas. And assure 
him, said the same prince, that I am his friend, and that if he 
has occasion for my services, I will go myself into France with 
all the lances and fusils belonging to the king my father ,* which 
was as much as to say, with all the force of the kingdom. 
The king presently pursued the discourse, and assured me he 
would go thither in person, if there was need for it ; and with 
that all the negro men and women raised such a shout as much 
surprised me ; and this was scarce over, when the fusileers 
made a general discharge of their arms ; the drums and trum- 
pets went to it again j and those who carried the lances set 



47S THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

themselves running from one side to another with such horrible 
outcries as frighted me. I was really ignorant of the meaning 
of all this, and could not be satisfied till I saw the king drink 
the French king's health a second time, with the same cere- 
monies as at first. Prince Thomas drank it also, and all of us 
were commanded to do the same. This being over, the king 
ordered two wax" cakes to be brought, whereof he made me a 
present, desiring me to accept them as a token of his friend- 
ship, and then he went into his house. 

The audience being thus over, Prince Thomas carried me 
along with him into all the parts of the village, whither he 
went to visit his friends ; and we went on the succeeding days 
to see several other villages that are scattered up and down 
the country, about five leagues distant from each other. 

These people, the greatest part of whom had never been at 
the sea-side, and consequently had not seen any white people, 
ran from all quarters to see us, and brought us more fruit, with 
bufHers and elephants' flesh, than we could, eat. As for the 
elephants of this country, they are not altogether like unto 
those in the East Indies, whereof they are a different species ; 
as are also those of Cafala, near Zanguebar, on the eastern 
coasts of Ethiopia. The negroes eat of their flesh with a good 
appetite, and like the same better than any other ; hereof they 
provide their best feasts, and those who were minded to honor 
us most, brought it unto us instead of that of bufBers, which I 
prefer much before it. 

As they were not able to comprehend the difference there 
was between the color of their faces and ours, they would fre- 
quently put their hands upon our faces to see if the white 
color would go off ; and it was the fortune of many of us, to 
meet with hands scrubbed with knives, so as that many times 
we were hurt with them, which yet we durst not complain of. 
Prince Thomas, when he saw that, commanded all the attend- 
ants that they should suffer none to come and rub and scrape 
us with their fingers in that manner, and spoke aloud to all the 
people who came to see us, that all strangers were white as 
we were ; and that if the negroes went into another country, 
they would seem to be as odd colored there as we were in 
Guiaea. He laughed also from time to time to see the people 
run in that fashion after us, as if we had been some unknown 
animal ; and I am not certain whether he were sorry to see us 
thus incommoded with the importunities of those negroes, or 
that he took some pleasure to see the folly of his countrymen, 
as I have done many a time, to behold all their extravagant 
humors. 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 479 

At last, after a journey and diversion together of three days, 
the prince brought me back by another way to take my leave 
of his father. The king caressed me a thousand times, after a 
most obliging manner, according to the custom of his country, 
and made me promise I should give him a visit the first time I 
returned into Guinea. Then we embarked in our canoes, and 
next day came to Prince Thomas's village, where he continued 
to treat us after the same manner he had been used to do. 
Here he spake to me again, that he would have me stand wit- 
ness for his son at his baptism ; which Ldid with so much the 
more pleasure, in that I was helping to make a Christian, and 
sanctify a soul. 

But as I was dubious whether the priest of the town knew 
how to baptize a child, or that he could remember the words 
he ought to say at the administration of that sacrament, I de- 
sired the prince to send for a priest out of one of the Portu- 
guese ships, which he presently did, to Cape Lopez ; so that 
one came from thence in two days' time. The Portuguese 
were the people that brought the Christian religion first into 
these countries. It is true, they have not kept the same up 
there as they ought to have done ; but the difficulties that 
obstruct that good establishment proceed, without doubt, from 
hence, that men must dwell in a country that is no better than 
savage, where the air and the victuals are not so agreeable to 
strangers. To give religion a sure footing in these regious, it is 
necessary that the Europeans have fixed habitations, or build 
towns there ; that they instruct the negroes in the truths of the 
Christian faith, and that they send out missionaries from time 
to time among these poor wretches. This might very easily 
be done, because the people are very docile, and readily appre- 
hend the truths which you would teach them, as having lived 
without any faith at all, or any idea of another religion, for a 
long time. These negroes being once become Christians, you 
might make priests among them of their own nation, who 
might be furnished with books for the ceremonies of the church, 
and a catechism for the rule of their faith, until they were capa- 
ble to read the New Testament. It is necessary also, that a 
bishop were constituted in this town, who should take care to 
send priests to the dwellings of the negroes, up and down the 
countries, and to build oratories in the most populous places. 
The Christian religion might in this manner be settled in 
Guinea, and so become less subject to be ruined by the wars 
which strangers make there. The Christians also who dwell 
in the kingdoms of Fez and Morocco might be reformed, and 
a correspondence settled between the priests of that nation, and 



480 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

those of Guinea, that so they might be assisting to one another 
for the keeping up of religion on all the coasts of Africa. It 
was in a manner not unlike unto this, that Christianity estab- 
lished itself among the gentiles, who were a hundred fold 
more averse to our faith than the negroes of Guinea. Tho 
priests of this country are for the most part no priests at all, as 
having never been ordained by any bishop, and constituted 
themselves in the room of those that were deceased in their 
country. And thus it is that they have nothing in a man- 
ner that savors of Christianity,- though they have ceremonies 
enough, and some appearance of a sacrifice. 

But to return to our baptism. The Portuguese priest being 
come, Prince Thomas's son was baptized, and named Lewis 
le Grand, in pursuance to the intention of his father. A negro 
woman, and one of his relations, served as godmother, and I 
for godfather. I was told this lady was called Antonia, and 
that she had been thus named by the wife of a Portuguese 
captain at her baptism. 

Two or three days after this ceremony was over, which was 
performed with all the magnificence the negroes were capable 
of, Prince Thomas's guards, which he kept at Cape de Lopez 
to give him notice of the arrival of any ships, came to tell him 
there was an English ship come thither. I desired him to let 
me go on board her, that I might return to my own country, 
to free myself from those many inconveniences I still labored 
under. But he would not have me commit myself into the 
hands of my enemies, and desired me to have a little patience 
till the arrival of some Portuguese ships, with which he would 
let me go. In the mean time the prince went to Cape Lopez, 
there to exchange elephants' teeth, bees' wax, and negroes for 
iron, arms, and brandy, and returned from thence in ten or 
twelve days. 

He told me, when he came back, that there was a Portu- 
guese ship come to anchor at Cape de Lopez, and that I should 
go down in his canoe in order to go on board her ; that he had 
recommended me to the captain, and that I should want noth- 
ing that was necessary for my voyage into Europe. 

I presently gathered my men together, except two whom I 
did not think fit to wait for ; for they were gone up into the 
country five or six days before, and I knew not where to find 
them. We therefore embarked on board this prince's canoes, 
after I had taken my leave of him ; and upon our arrival at Cape 
Lopez, I found the Portuguese commander to be one of my 
friends, with whom I had contracted acquaintance at the Isle of 
St. Thomas. I went on board him, and three days after we 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMEKICA. 48 

anchored at the said island, the governor whereof showed me 
and my men a thousand civilities during a month's space that we 
were forced to tarry in that port. At the expiration of that time, 
came in an English ship that had been out upon the Gold Coast. 
I made acquaintance with the captain, and we grew to be such 
friends, that I thought myself obliged in honor to accept of the 
offers he made me. He prayed me to go on board his ship, and 
assured me I should find all the help imaginable at Barbadoes, 
whither he was bound, because there were very good Jewish 
physicians of that island of his acquaintance. I embarked 
therefore in his ship, with all my men, notwithstanding all the 
reasons given me by the governor of the island to make me 
suspicious of the Englishman, who was undoubtedly as honest 
a man as any of his country. He was so civil as to give me 
his own cabin, with all the pleasure and diversion he could 
think of, for the solacing of my spirits under the afflictions I 
had from time to time endured. 

Ten days after our departure from St. Thomas, a blast of 
wind unhappily made us lose our rudder, in the room whereof 
we were forced to set up a spare top-mast ; and this proved 
very detrimental to' our voyage, which lasted no less than three 
months. 

Provisions began to be scarce before our arrival at Barba- 
does ; so that when we came there, we had no more than what 
would have served us for three days longer ; insomuch that 
the captain, being concerned that he had taken our men aboard, 
ordered our allowance to be lessened three fourths of what it 
should be. When we were got to port, the captain went to 
wait upon Colonel Russel, who is general there, related to him 
my whole adventure with the guard-ship of Angola, and was 
much blamed for bringing me to Barbadoes. When the cap- 
tain returned on board his ship, he told me what the governor 
had said, who had forbid him upon pain of death to let me go 
ashore. However, he said nothing to me of this prohibition, 
but contented himself with only desiring me not to go ashore, 
that it might create no suspicion in the governor; which I 
promised exactly to perform, having no great concern upon me 
of seeing a place again that I had known so long ago, and 
being unwilling to create my captain any trouble. 

Next day, several Jews that had been driven away from 
Martinico, having heard of my arrival, came to see me, and 
finding I was very crazy, and much out of order, they sent 
some physicians of their nation to me, who said I could not be 
cured, if I were not carried ashore, and thereupon offered to 
solicit the governor on my behalf, for giving 'me leave to gc 
41 



482 THE BUCCANEEKS OF AMEPJCA. 

and lie in a house in the town. I drew up a petition to him, 
praying him to grant me that liberty, and promising I would 
not stir out of the chamber where I was placed, till I were to 
reembark to go for Martinico. 

The physicians themselves were obliged to be my securities, 
and I was at length carried to Mr. Jacob Lewis's house, where 
I was very well looked after all the time I staid there. Three 
days after I was brought thither, the major general came to see 
me from Colonel Russel, the governor. He very civilly offered 
me his protection, and all those things that could be conducive 
for the recovery of my health. The same major, as also the 
captain of the garrison, came also to visit me from time to 
time, though I apprehended they came not so much to inspect 
into the state of my health, as to see if I were in a condition 
to be transported out of that island. Colonel Russel, about ton 
or twelve days after my arrival, came to see if I were as bad as 
they said I was. He came again about seven or eight days 
after in the evening, and caused me to be carried out of the 
Jew's house where I was, to an English merchant's. He told 
me I should be better accommodated there than at Jacob 
Lewis's ; but I thought it was to the intent! might be watched 
more narrowly, and not converse with many people. He came 
to see me the next day, and asked how I liked my new lodg- 
ings. I rendered him many thanks for the civilities and kind- 
nesses he showed me, and that he might have no occasion to 
suspect my men, I prayed him to shut them up in the citadel, 
that they might not run about the island, and to prevent their 
making of their escape. 

He said he would take care of it, but that .1 was to under- 
stand they were prisoners of war as well as myself. I made 
answer, I knew that, and that I thought myself a happy man 
to have fallen into his hands ; but that the English captain, 
who had brought me to Barbadoes, had given me his word I 
should not be detained, nor any of my men ; that it was upon 
his faith given me, and the tenders of service he made, that I 
had embarked, as firmly relying upon those testimonies of his 
friendship he had given me. Then I desired him to grant me 
and my men our liberty, promising I should be ever mindful 
of the favor done me, whether it were by restoring of the 
prisoners I might take belonging to the islands, or paying him 
such a ransom as he required. 

No, said the governor, I will have neither your ransom, nor 
your prisoners, and you are too brave a man for me to have no 
compassion upon your many misfortunes; I desire, on the con- 
trary, that you would accept of these forty pistoles, which I 



THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 483 

present you with, to supply your present occasion. He gave 
them me in a purse, which he had doubtless brought along 
with him for that purpose ; and when he left me, he said he 
went to give orders for to bring my men together. Next day 
he sent me two of them, who said they knew not what was 
become of the rest, and that they had orders from the gov- 
ernor to stay with me. I had the liberty to send them abroad 
to get me necessaries ; and at last, finding myself somewhat 
recovered by the care my landlord took of me, I told the officer 
that came daily to see me, that I desired the governor to let me 
go on board the first vessel that was bound to Martin ico. 

Three days after came a bark, which the Count de Blenac, 
general of the French islands, had sent thither about the ex- 
change of prisoners. Colonel Russel sent me word she was 
come, and that I should prepare to be gone. Then it was I 
had the liberty to go to his house to render him thanks for all 
the civilities he had showed me. He told me he was sorry that 
by the Jaws of war he was bound to allow me no more liberty 
than I had, and that he prayed me to use the English kindly 
that should happen to fall into my hands. This being done, I 
went on board the French bark, which was commanded by the 
Sieur Courpon, formerly an inhabitant of St. Christopher's, and 
I could never find any more of my freebooters than those two 
I have spoken of, whom the governor sent me. 

We went ashore at Port Royal in Martinico, and I went with 
my men to the town to wait upon Monsieur de Blenac, who 
was then sick of that distemper he died of. I gave him a rela- 
tion of all my adventures, and I am sure he was surprised to 
hear the particulars of so many misfortunes. As he would 
have me stay at his house all the time I tarried in Martinico, 
he made me every day repeat unto him the manner of my 
fight with the English man-of-war ; and at last finding an op- 
portunity of getting me transported into France, he sent for the 
captain of the ship who was bound thither, and recommended 
me to him. He would also have written letters by me to Mon- 
sieur Phelipeaux, to recommend me to some employ ; but the 
day before my departure he was taken so very ill, that he could 
not write, and that day, which was the 10th of June, in the 
evening he died. I was mightily troubled at his death for sev- 
eral reasons. He was a person that took delight in serving 
every body ; who had great compassion on such as had been 
persecuted by an evil fate, as was my case ; who went forwards 
with what he knew; who of himself made an offer of those 
favors he was minded to bestow, before they were asked of 
him ; and who, in short, was brave as to his person, skilful in 



484 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 

maritime affairs, a good seaman, knew all the coasts and heights 
of land in America, was in great esteem with the king for his 
integrity, wisdom, justice, and for all the great services he had 
done the government in the way of commerce and discovery 
of islands. The next day after his death I embarked on board 
the Virgin, a ship belonging to Bourdeaux, and which had been 
built there, in which port, after a passage of not many days, I 
arrived at last, with many different thoughts and contrary sen- 
timents within me. I do not know whether I have bid the 
sea adieu, so much has my last misfortune terrified me ; or 
whether I shall go out again to be revenged on the English, 
who have done me so much mischief, or go and traverse the 
seas with a design to get me a little wealth, or rest quiet and 
eat up what my relations have left me. There is a strange 
inclination in men to undertake voyages, as there is to gam- 
ing ; whatever misfortunes befall them, they do not believe 
they will be always unhappy, and therefore they will play on. 
Thus it is as to the sea ; whatever accidents befall us, we are in 
hopes to find a favorable opportunity to make us amends for 
all our losses. I believe whoever reads this account will find 
it a hard task to give me counsel thereupon, or to take the 
same himself. 



